The Iran–China 25-year Cooperation Program or Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between I.R. Iran, P.R. China, was signed in 2021. The two countries and their respective predecessors have the longest diplomatic relationship in human history, AFAIK. Iran funded and armed Hamas in Palestine, and China funded and armed Iran.
Syria under Assad was also allied to the Russian and Chinese circle of influence.
Afghanistan... you're right that they have no true allies at this point, but given how the proxy wars have played out thus far I find it hard to believe they're not somehow tied into it all. Just a conspiracy theory at this point.
African nations are allying economically and militarily with China as we speak, the most recent one was the Chinese Launchpad being built in Egypt and they're talking about expanding that program to many other nations in Africa.