Yes, I suppose the 'realist' theory I'm going by predicts what the US will seek to do (get control of smaller nations and attack larger enemies with them), but not whether it will succeed with that strategy. Did it succeed with Ukraine +sactions? Probably not. Russia retooled and is perhaps even stronger now, making ammunition far faster, shifted its trade to more reliable partners, etc. This idea of using Iran to attack China is kind-of a wild thought I never had until this moment. I've never heard anybody suggest it. I'm just drawing from theory and speculating, maybe a bit wildly.