As U.S.–Iran tensions surge toward the brink of war, Russia and China are moving quickly to block any American military escalation in the Middle East. Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed strong strategic backing for Iran, calling Moscow–Tehran ties “friendly and good-neighborly.” Meanwhile, Chinese commercial satellite imagery has revealed fresh U.S. Patriot PAC-3 missile defense deployments in Bahrain, highlighting Washington’s preparations for possible Iranian retaliation. The unfolding crisis underscores a new era where global powers, diplomacy, and open-source intelligence collide in real time.