Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has said China is carefully balancing its relationship with Iran while avoiding actions that could provoke a direct confrontation with the United States.
Harward made the remarks during an interview from 3:11 with Fox News on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as he discussed the international implications of the escalating confrontation involving Iran and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing China’s role, Harward argued that Beijing has strong economic reasons to maintain ties with Tehran, particularly because of its reliance on Iranian energy supplies. However, he suggested that China is also wary of taking steps that could jeopardize its broader relationship with Washington.
According to the retired admiral, Beijing is attempting to preserve access to Iranian oil while avoiding actions that could invite significant pressure or retaliation from the United States.
Explaining his assessment, Harward said, “They’re dancing on both sides of the table. They want to help them, that’s their access to oil, but they don’t want to get too aggressive with us, because we have strings to pull against them.”
He added that China appears to be carefully managing its involvement, noting that the country wants to safeguard its energy interests while limiting its exposure to escalating geopolitical tensions. Harward also argued that increasing economic pressure and further isolating Iran could maximize leverage over Tehran and influence how its government responds to the ongoing crisis….See More