Call it what you will. I believe that Russia and China will not support the U.S. sanctions against Iran and will do what the can to make sure their business with Tehran continues.
Just like everyone else, Russia and China have much more to lose from the USA, than they could possibly gain from Iran. They will only use Iran to make trouble when there is no real cost.
They don't believe there will be cost involved. ZTE has taught them that.
When push comes to shove, Iran is utterly alone in the world, as evidenced in Syria recently - Russia and Syria told their military to stand down, while the Iranian military was being bombed.
I disagree.
“They don’t believe there will be cost involved. ZTE has taught them that.”
Trump took ZTE hostage, and made them buy it back. In addition to agreeing to Iranian sanctions going forward (or else), ZTE (effectively the Chinese Government), must still pay $1.7 billion dollars. That probably teaches them that there are real costs.
“Russia and Syria told their military to stand down, while the Iranian military was being bombed.
I disagree.”
Do you think that Russia shot down Israeli planes that were attacking Iranian positions? Or that Assad has declared war? No, they did not. No country on Earth made any move to defend Iranian troops. Nor will they.
What Shi’ite power will rally to the defense of Iranian Mullahs? None. What Sunni power? None.
Bad actors like Iran to be a thorn in America’s side, but none are willing to take on America (or even Israel) militarily on Iran’s behalf, and none are willing to sacrifice their business with America (and operations in the International banking system) in favor of business with Iran.
The current Iranian regime is circling the drain, and all the big players know it. Iranian banks have long since been plundered of their assets. Their currency is collapsing. Their economy makes very little of what they consume - they totally rely on oil and gas exports. 90% of their exports go through Kharg Island, and 70% of their imports go through Bandar Abbas - both of which the US could take out over the weekend, if we chose.
The Iranian people hate their Government, and are only kept under control with harsh repression and frequent mass hangings. A third of the population are ethnic minorities with active independence movements (Kurds, Arabs, Azeris, Balochis) - but the Persian heartland was swept by uprisings in recent months as well.