[4] saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-china-sign-security-cooperation-pact/ The 25-year Iran-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Islamic Republic of Iran, P.R. China[2] is a 25-year cooperation agreement on the development of Iran-China relations signed by the Chinese and Iranian Foreign Ministers in Tehran on March 27, 2021; the final details of the deal have not yet been officially announced. China also has serious concerns about Iranian proliferation, but it is fortunate to be a stowaway in global efforts to reduce Iran. China expresses all the good feelings about the desire for a negotiated solution to the differences, but at the same time, it is pursuing its own agreements with Iran and relying on its overwhelming advantage, which is due not only to the relative size of the economies of the two countries, but also to Iran`s isolation from the world. China accounts for about a third of Iran`s trade, and Iran accounts for less than 1% of China`s trade. China`s economy is 30 times larger than Iran`s and its population is 18 times larger. China is an elephant and Iran is an ant. Although China views Iranian proliferation as undesirable, it does not feel threatened by Iran. Instead, China views Iran as a useful tool to use in its foreign policy by calibrating its distance and proximity to Iran to some extent in order to get closer to or further away from the US and its allies. The decisive impulse now is to move on. China has agreed to invest $400 billion in Iran over a 25-year period in exchange for a steady supply of oil to boost its growing economy as part of a comprehensive economic and security deal signed on Saturday. The timing of the recent announcement of the 25-year strategic agreement is therefore less about the development of relations between Beijing and Tehran than about the rapid deterioration of relations between Beijing and Washington.

China is trying to identify areas where it can strengthen its influence, and Iran is an opportunity of choice. At a time when the United States is wavering about recession and coronavirus and is increasingly isolated internationally, Beijing is feeling America`s weakness. The draft Iran deal shows that, unlike most countries, China feels capable of challenging the United States, which is powerful enough to withstand U.S. sanctions, as was the case in President Trump`s trade war. The partnership, detailed in an 18-page New York Times deal proposal, would significantly expand China`s presence in banking, telecommunications, ports, railroads and dozens of other projects. In return, China would receive a steady — and sharply reduced — supply of Iranian oil over the next 25 years, according to an Iranian official and an oil trader. Nevertheless, at least the publicity surrounding this deal is seen by Tehran as undermining Washington`s argument that Iran is isolated because of the ”maximum pressure” campaign. At best, the 25-year strategic deal between Tehran and Beijing could be Iran`s ”insurance policy” if U.S. sanctions continue and the battle between the U.S. and China escalates. In short, this agreement is not just a piece of Tehran`s propaganda. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the deal was a ”roadmap” for trade as well as economic and transport cooperation, with a special focus on the private sectors of the two countries.

The plans – nearly 100 cited in the draft treaty – are in line with Xi`s ambitions to extend his economic and strategic influence to all of Eurasia through the Belt and Road Initiative, a major aid and investment program. Iranian officials have touted the deal with Beijing — first proposed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a visit in 2016 — as a breakthrough. But in Iran, there has been criticism that the government could give too much to China. The third is China`s remarkable absence in the P5+1`s collective efforts to bring Iran back into compliance with the JCPOA. Russia has a whole series of disagreements with the Biden administration, and it has a complicated relationship with Iran that involves direct involvement in Iran`s civilian nuclear program. Yet Russian officials are clearly concerned about the prospect of Iranian proliferation, and they have spoken openly about the need for Iranian restraint. A Russian diplomat, Mikhail Ulyanov, has played a leading role in the Vienna-based nuclear negotiations with Iran, bringing messages between Iranian and U.S. officials as Iran refuses to negotiate directly with the U.S. following the Trump administration`s unilateral cancellation of the deal. The absence of the United States adds additional importance to Russian diplomacy, and although Russia is not allied with either side, he is a high-ranking American. The negotiator said at a closed-door meeting last week that he saw ”Russia`s desire to play a positive role” and described ”a very cooperative approach where they want to work with us to see if we can get back to the deal.” The deal could boost China`s influence in the Middle East and undermine U.S.

efforts to keep Iran isolated. But it was not immediately clear to what extent the deal could be implemented, while the dispute between the United States and Iran over its nuclear program is still unresolved. Hardliners in Tehran have been calling for closer relations with China for years. The withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear deal gave them what they wanted. In Beijing, officials did not disclose the terms of the deal, and it is unclear whether Xi`s government signed it or, if so, when it might announce it. The foreign ministers of the two countries, Javad Zarif and Wang Yi, signed the agreement on Saturday at a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, according to Iran`s semi-official Fars news agency. This concluded a two-day visit by Wang that reflected China`s growing ambition to play a greater role in a region that has been a strategic concern of the United States for decades. Zarif said the deal would be submitted to parliament for final approval.

He has the support of Iran`s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two Iranian officials said. Finally, there is still a broad consensus among observers that, given China`s desire for profitable trade with the United States and China`s continued adherence to U.S. sanctions against Iran, the U.S. is a significant obstacle to deepening relations between Iran. Iran has traditionally looked west to Europe for trade and investment partners. Increasingly, however, he is frustrated with European countries that have resisted Mr. Trump`s policies but quietly withdrawn from the kind of deal promised by the nuclear deal. ”The United States will continue to impose costs on Chinese companies that help Iran, the world`s largest state sponsor of terrorism,” a State Department spokeswoman wrote in response to questions about the draft deal. Sino-Iranian relations will inevitably reshape the region`s political landscape in favor of Iran and China, further undermining US influence. In fact, the deal allows China to play a bigger role in one of the world`s most important regions. The strategic landscape has changed since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. In the new regional order, transnational identities based on religious and confessional divisions have spread and changed the nature of power dynamics.

Based on the deal, China agreed to inject $280 billion to $400 billion[15] into Iran`s oil, gas and petrochemical industries through foreign direct investment. [16] Iran has a similar project partnership with India and Russia, the so-called International North-South Transport Corridor. [24] There are also likely developments in Pakistan`s involvement. Iran and Pakistan have had friendly relations with China in the past. The benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative have the potential to outweigh political and religious differences. [25] The liberalization of trade between Iran and Pakistan through railways and ports could open up development potential in both countries. There would also be a stronger united front to put pressure on Afghanistan to do the same. [25] This potential deal would also reduce India`s pressure on Pakistan and China. [25] The Sino-Iranian deal could pave the way for future cooperation between Iran, China and Russia that would strengthen Iran`s role and influence in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Only time will tell if the deal is enough to increase Iran`s ability to counter U.S. pressure on nuclear negotiations and make China`s growing ambitions to strengthen its role in the Middle East a reality.

.