All this right after China, Russia, and Iran held world first-ever joint military drills.
https://www.ft.com/content/3d5a4cf0-288f-11ea-9a4f-963f0ec7e134
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-russia-and-china-team-up-for-military-drills-as-america-boosts-troops-in-saudi-arabia/
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/27/asia/china-russia-iran-military-drills-intl-hnk/index.html