Iran Eyes China’s “Rafale Killer” J-10C as Israel Calls on Beijing to Restrain Tehran

Defence affair analysis

In a dramatic escalation of the diplomatic chess game over Iran’s military trajectory, Israel has issued an urgent appeal for China to wield its unmatched economic and political leverage to restrain Tehran’s expanding military and nuclear ambitions.

This high-stakes plea comes at a pivotal moment as credible reports indicate that Iran is now actively weighing a potential acquisition of China’s J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” multirole fighter jet — an advanced combat aircraft that has earned notoriety as the region’s new “Rafale Killer.”

Speaking in Shanghai recently, Israeli Consul General Ravit Baer minced no words when describing Beijing’s unique position of influence over Tehran’s decision-makers.

“China is the only one capable of influencing Iran,” Baer said, according to Bloomberg News.

She pointedly added that “Iran would collapse if China didn’t buy its oil,” highlighting the fact that nearly 90 percent of the Islamic Republic’s oil exports now flow directly to Chinese buyers.

“They can pressure Iran. They have political power over Iran. They can help change its malign activities in the region,” Baer emphasized, reiterating the urgent need for Beijing to act decisively.

This direct diplomatic overture underscores growing Israeli anxiety over Iran’s increasingly public flirtation with the Chinese-built J-10C, a 4.5-generation fighter platform that has quickly earned combat credibility in the region.

Defence sources confirm that Iran’s renewed interest in the J-10C is rooted in its mounting frustration over the stalling of its much-hyped Su-35 “Flanker-E” deal with Russia.

Originally ordered by Egypt in a contract worth over USD 2 billion (RM9.4 billion), the Su-35 airframes were left in geopolitical limbo after Cairo abandoned the agreement under threat of U.S. Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) penalties.

Moscow later pivoted, offering the same airframes to Tehran in exchange for escalating Iranian drone and ballistic missile deliveries to Russian forces in Ukraine.