Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping [EPA Yonhap News]

Circumstantial evidence is increasingly emerging that Russia and China are providing support to Iran, which is at war with the United States.

As the United States grows concerned about the potential for strategic rivals to prop up the war-fighting capabilities of an adversary while wary of the political and economic shocks of a prolonged conflict, concerns are deepening.

According to a battlefield report released by the U.S. think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on the 11th (local time), Russia is reportedly sharing sophisticated drone tactics to support Iran's attacks targeting the U.S.

In relation to this, CNN reported on the same day, citing an anonymous Western intelligence official, that Russia is providing Iran with advanced drone tactics used in the war in Ukraine.

While the official declined to specify the exact nature of the tactical support being provided, they stated that Russia's support is going beyond a general level and is becoming "increasingly concerning."

Previously, Russia had extensively deployed Shahed drones, Iranian-made suicide drones, in the war in Ukraine, gaining operational experience with their tactics.

Iran and Russia also signed a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement" in January last year, outlining measures for knowledge and technology transfer between the two countries.

According to ISW, evidence has also emerged suggesting that China is supplying precursors for solid missile fuel to Iran.

This is evidenced by the fact that Iranian vessels are regularly traveling between Chinese ports equipped with missile fuel storage facilities and mainland Iran.

Earlier, The Washington Post (WP) reported that two ships belonging to Iran's state-owned shipping company, which is under U.S. sanctions, departed from Gaolan Port in Zhuhai, southeastern China, last week, loaded with cargo, and sailed for Iran.

Gaolan Port is known to have large-scale storage facilities for various liquid chemicals, including perchlorate, a key raw material for solid missile propellants.

Regarding the recent actions of Russia, China, and others, ISW analyzed that they "clearly reveal the deepening strategic cooperation among America's key adversaries."

The circumstantial evidence of covert support from Russia and China is expected to be a significant burden for the United States, as it allows Iran to sustain its war efforts for a longer period.

The U.S. government is concerned that if the war continues to drag on, oil prices will rise, and prices across the broader economy will surge, leading to deteriorating public opinion.

Currently, U.S. President Donald Trump is in a situation where he must be acutely aware of public sentiment regarding the war, as the midterm elections in November of this year are approaching, which will serve as an interim assessment of his second term in office and determine the majority party in Congress.