Iran, China strengthen ties: ‘Post-US era begins’

Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Sharif and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi happily clapped their hands on Saturday after signing a new cooperation agreement between Iran and China. Iran will supply cheap oil to China in exchange for Chinese investment in Iran’s billions of dollars in infrastructure.

His mask could not hide Zarip’s wide smile. The minister’s delight is understandable because Iran currently has some allies. Zarif concluded after the signing ceremony that “China is a friend in difficult times”. China will remain a friend for a long time, as the two countries have agreed on a cooperation agreement on the way they hope to travel together over the next 25 years. This is the first time that Iran has concluded such a long-term deal with a world power.

400 billion investments

The official text of the deal has not been released, but locals say it differs from an earlier version leaked last year. The New York Times. In this previous edition, Iran said it would provide oil at a higher discount to China, and in return China would invest at least $ 400 billion in Iran over the next 25 years, according to the ports, railways, healthcare and telecommunications sector.

This new alliance undermines US efforts to isolate Iran economically through sanctions and brings the country back to the negotiating table to discuss a new Iran deal. The ‘old’ agreement that blocked Iran’s nuclear program to lift US sanctions – collapsed in 2018 when former US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the United States and reintroduce tough sanctions.

Although Trump’s successor Joe Biden is in favor of a new deal, there seems to be little progress. Both sides expect another to take the first step: Iran demands that the United States remove its nuclear program first, and that Iran remove sanctions on its start-up.

The New Silk Road also runs through the Middle East

Biden’s strategy of not lifting sanctions and putting the Iranian regime under economic pressure to return to the Iran deal seems to be receding as China jumps into the economic hole it has created. China is one of the few countries that continues to buy Iranian oil, despite US sanctions. By signing the cooperation agreement, it further strengthens relations with Iran.

China’s interest in Iran is part of a broader economic interest in the region, which is China’s motivation.belt and road starte ‘, also known as the New Silk Road, is an investment and infrastructure project aimed at strengthening trade routes between Asia, Europe and Africa.

Since the initiative was launched in 2013, it has become a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy. In recent years, China has helped Saudi Arabia with its nuclear program, built 5G networks in various countries and invested billions in infrastructure projects in Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

Chinese activity in the Middle East is a thorn in the side of the United States, which is slowly diminishing its influence. Or, as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei tweeted in February, “the post-US era has begun.”

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