Tehran looks forward to a pivotal Chinese role in regional security
During his visit to Beijing, Iran's acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, affirmed that Tehran seeks China's support in establishing a "new regional framework" for the post-war period in Gaza. In his remarks, Kani emphasized that this framework aims to achieve a sustainable balance between development and security in the Middle East, a move reflecting Iran's efforts to strengthen its Eastern alliances and reshape the regional balance of power away from traditional Western hegemony.
Background of strategic relations between Iran and China
This Iranian invitation comes amid growing strategic relations between Tehran and Beijing. In 2021, the two countries signed a comprehensive 25-year cooperation agreement covering a wide range of areas, including the economy, energy, security, and infrastructure. This partnership is an integral part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to bolster Beijing’s global influence through a network of trade and investment projects. For Iran, the alliance with China represents an economic and political lifeline in the face of stringent US sanctions, as China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, providing Tehran with a vital source of revenue.
The importance of the initiative and its expected impact
Iran’s success in securing effective Chinese support for establishing this new framework could fundamentally alter the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. Regionally, it poses a direct challenge to the decades-long US-led security order and could encourage other states in the region to reassess their alliances. This move follows China’s successful mediation of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023, demonstrating Beijing’s capacity to play an active diplomatic role in the region’s complex issues.
On the international stage, this move strengthens China's position as a major power capable of challenging American influence in vital regions around the world. It also aligns with the Chinese and Russian vision of a multipolar world, where Washington no longer holds sole global decision-making power. This Iranian-Chinese rapprochement is expected to raise concerns in the United States and among its allies, particularly Israel, which views the growing Iranian influence as a direct threat to its national security.
