Iran has been bombed, seen United Nations sanctions reimposed and its economy collapse further into the red this year.

But its theocracy so far hasn't taken any major action to halt the slide, restart crucial nuclear negotiations with the West nor fully prepare for possible further hostilities with Israel and the United States.

In the past, Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei heralded the benefit of Tehran's “strategic patience” in confronting its enemies.

Now, however, concern is growing that patience has slipped into paralysis as Iran's partners in its self-described “Axis of Resistance” have been devastated and there's no overt sign of materiel support from either China or Russia.

The Associated Press' Jon Gambrell explains more.