Iran and China have been drawn closer by their common interests and challenges, as well as the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and its relentless pressure on other countries to halt doing business with the Islamic Republic, a political analyst said.
“The development of Tehran-Beijing relations since the JCPOA was signed indicates that not only has there not been a downward trend in ties but their relationship has also become stronger, which is unprecedented,” Mohammad Nikbakhsh wrote in a recent report carried by ISNA, referring to the Iran nuclear agreement by its formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“Iran and China, which share historical backgrounds and maintain long-standing relations, have recently opened a new chapter in their ties,” he added.
Washington has been seeking to bring Iranian oil exports to zero to curb Tehran’s missile and nuclear programs and counter its influence in the Middle East. But China, Tehran’s biggest crude buyer, has received a temporary waiver from US sanctions that allows it to buy 360,000 barrels per day of oil.
“Today, China, as a rising power in the world, has a special status in the international system. Its great potential in various areas, particularly in the fields of politics and economy, has turned it into an influential player in international politics, and that is why many countries have sought to expand their relations with this country,” Nikbakhsh said.
The driving factors behind Tehran’s pursuit of deeper ties with Beijing include China’s commitment to maintaining economic and political relations with the Islamic Republic even in the era of sanctions and Iran’s growing mistrust in the West, says a political expert
He added that the Iranian government is keen to work closely with the Asian powerhouse on political, economic, security, defense and geopolitical issues, as it attaches high importance to ties with Beijing.
Long-Term Roadmap
In 2016, the two countries mapped out a wide-ranging 25-year plan to broaden relations and boost trade to $600 billion over the next 10 years during a visit by President Xi Jinping, who became the first Chinese leader to travel to Iran in 14 years.
China was the top customer of Iran’s oil and non-oil goods in 2018, according to a spokesperson with China’s General Administration of Customs.
"Tehran-Beijing trade saw a 1.8% growth during the nine months of 2018 to reach 189.16 billion yuan ($29.1 billion)," Li Kuiwen was also quoted as saying by IRNA in October.
China’s exports to Iran stood at 76.18 billion yuan ($11.72 billion), indicating a 16.3% decline year-on-year while imports from Iran hovered around 112.98 billion yuan ($17.38 billion), about 19.1% more than in last year’s corresponding period, according to the Chinese official.
Nikbakhsh believes that the driving factors behind Tehran’s pursuit of deeper ties with Beijing include China’s commitment to maintaining economic and political relations with the Islamic Republic even in the era of sanctions, Iran’s growing mistrust in the West, America’s acts of provocation against Iran, Europe’s limited power to help serve the country’s national interests and the need to curb the spread of terrorism and extremism in the already volatile Middle East.
“On the other hand, Iran is strategically important for China,” the expert said, adding that the East Asian country’s goal of securing energy resources for its future demands and the increasing competition between superpowers compel it to shift more proactively toward stronger ties with Tehran.
“Iran and China, as two important and influential countries in the international system, have common interests and objectives … and their long-term collaboration will help them achieve their strategic goals and increase the level of bilateral ties,” Nikbakhsh declared.
