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Relations (1)
related 7.39 — strongly supporting 138 facts
Iran and China maintain a significant bilateral relationship characterized by deep economic ties, such as China being Iran's primary oil export market {fact:27, fact:32, fact:40} and a long-term trade partner {fact:7, fact:12}. Their relationship is also defined by strategic geopolitical alignment, including joint naval exercises {fact:6, fact:35}, diplomatic cooperation [1], and a shared interest in challenging United States hegemony {fact:10, fact:30, fact:34}.
Facts (138)
Sources
Iran's Strategies in Response To Changes in US-China Relations mepc.org 64 facts
perspectiveAnti-hegemonic principles shared among Russian, Chinese, and Iranian political leaders play a significant role in strengthening their diplomatic relationships.
claimIran is determined to consolidate its relationship with China and implement strategies to secure a more powerful position within the global system.
claimIran's ideological framework, which is built around the notion of American decline and the emergence of a new global order, serves as the primary strategic response to changes between superpowers and drives Tehran's policies toward China, the GCC, and Russia.
claimSenior Iranian leaders have historically identified realism as the primary pillar of their relationship with China and Russia.
accountIn 2015, Iranian officials announced plans to rebuild relations with Europe and expand ties with China, hoping to benefit from freer trade and investment.
perspectiveIran views China as the primary challenger to United States hegemony and a central actor in establishing a new global order.
claimAyatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly declared Beijing a trustworthy partner and stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran will never forget China's support in bypassing international sanctions.
claimIran normalized relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at a time when Iranian policy makers anticipated an increase in China’s regional power and viewed that increase as a means to fulfill Iran's strategic vision.
claimChina cooperates with Iran to facilitate the evasion of international sanctions while simultaneously securing discounted energy prices.
claimThe bilateral relationship between Iran and China is primarily based on trade and business collaborations, which have been reinforced by Iran's efforts to bypass international sanctions.
claimChina supported the termination of the arms embargo on Iran in 2020, despite concerns raised by other regional players, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
claimChina brokered a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, fulfilling a mediation role that the United States and Europe failed to play in recent years.
claimWestern sanctions have challenged the expansion of economic ties between Iran and China, resulting in Iran's failure to attract significant Chinese investment in the Belt and Road Initiative or other projects.
claimTehran believes that American global power is declining while China's power is rising, which has dominated Iran's policies and its envisioned regional and global roles.
perspectiveThe Chinese government's cooperation model is more favorable to Iran than Western government models because China does not impose values on its partners.
accountIn 2019, Iran, Russia, and China conducted a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean to symbolize their commitment to opposing American global unilateralism.
claimIran has pursued a 'looking East' policy aimed at strengthening relations with China and Russia.
claimIran's strategy of strengthening relations with non-Western great powers, specifically China, is largely influenced by the personal views and foreign-relations goals of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
claimIran's foreign policy strategy in response to changing US-China relations involves deepening ties with China, revising regional policies to align with China's influence in the Gulf, and projecting power by aiding Russia in Ukraine.
claimChina has offered technological assistance to Iran, facilitated by China's strategy to develop its technological and scientific industries, civil-military integration, and dual-use technologies through the export of products and standards.
claimAyatollah Ali Khamenei described the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Iran and China as a wise decision.
claimIran has deepened its ties with China beyond business and trade collaboration as a strategic response to shifting dynamics in the United States-China relationship.
perspectiveThe Islamic Republic of Iran is motivated to become a member of the newly emerging Chinese-led realm of influence.
perspectiveIran perceives China’s ties with the Gulf region as an effort to create a new area of influence that is hospitable to Iran's own vision.
claimChina and Russia have successfully navigated Iran's complex and ideology-oriented political system, unlike Western powers.
claimPresident Ebrahim Raisi has described the friendship between Iran and China as being based on mutual respect and trust, following the guidance of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
accountThe 2023 agreement that re-established diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia was brokered by China.
claimRising domestic dissent in Iran may have contributed to the advancement of technological collaboration between Iran and China.
claimTechnologies accessed through collaboration with Chinese companies have enabled Iran to conduct surveillance on its citizens, suppress protests, and monitor dissidents.
accountIran has maintained consistent ties with China since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, despite the country's 'no East, no West' policy slogan that marked its early post-revolution years.
measurementBilateral trade between China and Iran was approximately $16 billion in 2022.
claimIran is actively seeking to integrate itself into what it perceives as China's emerging sphere of influence in the Gulf region to increase its own regional relevance.
claimIran has revised its policies in the Gulf region to align with China's network of influence, aiming to improve its position in a multilateral global order.
accountIran and China initiated a nuclear-cooperation agreement in the early 1990s, which was terminated due to US pressure.
claimChina has successfully convinced the Iranian regime and leaders of Arab Gulf countries of its capacity and willingness to support their regional aspirations.
claimThe Iran-Saudi rapprochement highlighted China's mediation capacity and boosted China's status among regional leaders.
accountChina's agreement with the 2006 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decision to refer Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council served as a turning point in the decades-long nuclear dispute.
claimThe diplomatic deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which was brokered by China, shifted the dynamics of the relationship between Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
perspectiveIranian senior leaders believe that expanding China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) cooperation provides an opportunity for Iran to enter China’s realm of influence, which will end the United States-led global system.
perspectiveIran believes that increased collaboration between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China will be to the detriment of the United States.
claimIran perceives the changing relations between Beijing and Washington as a signal of China's deep strategic influence in the Gulf region.
claimChina and Iran collaborate on technological assistance in fields including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
perspectiveThe analysis in the MEPC essay concludes that Iran's ideological framework, which is built around the notion of American decline and the emergence of a new global order, serves as the primary strategic response to changes between superpowers and the driving force for Tehran’s policies toward China, the GCC, and Russia.
claimIran interprets China's engagement in the Gulf region as compatible with Iran's own desired role in a multipolar world.
referenceThe article 'Iran's Strategies in Response To Changes in US-China Relations' is part of a special issue examining the responses of Gulf countries to rising Sino-American competition, edited by Andrea Ghiselli, Anoushiravan Ehteshami, and Enrico Fardella.
measurementChina has been Iran's most important trade partner for more than a decade.
claimIn March 2021, Iran and China announced a comprehensive strategic partnership aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in energy, the economy, cybersecurity, and the military.
claimThe Saudi government welcomed the Chinese-backed rapprochement with Iran due to disappointment with the United States' inability to protect Saudi security.
claimIran's foreign policy strategy regarding the changing China-US relationship involves three primary approaches: deepening ties with China, revising policies to align with China's influence in the Gulf, and projecting power through military aid to Russia and anti-Israeli activities.
perspectiveThe Iranian regime, under the influence of the supreme leader, views China as the primary challenger to US hegemony and seeks to strengthen ties with Beijing to maximize Iran's global power.
perspectiveIran's strategic calculus regarding the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is influenced by the perception of United States decline and the rise of China.
claimChina's mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia indicates that Iran anticipates China will play a significant strategic role in the Gulf.
claimIran places high strategic value on its economic ties with China and seeks to improve economic relations with both China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
measurementDuring the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, bilateral trade between Iran and China increased from $10 billion to $43 billion.
claimIran's relations with China are driven by the need to build and strengthen links with a strong non-Western economic power, particularly during periods of harsh US-led economic sanctions.
claimIran has revised its regional policies to align with and contribute to what it perceives as China's emerging sphere of influence in the Gulf region.
claimTrade and business partnerships are the primary components of the bilateral relationship between Iran and China.
claimIran exports oil to China through subterranean methods, which provides Iran with revenue and facilitates the import of Chinese goods and services in exchange for discounted energy.
claimIran has the potential to be a valuable element of Chinese economic initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative due to its geographic location.
accountFollowing the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018 and the subsequent imposition of a maximum pressure campaign by President Donald Trump, European firms ceased business with Iran, and the Chinese banking system limited the scope of its operations with Iran.
perspectiveIran's primary response to the changing US-China relationship is a quest for power projection, which has led Iranian leaders to extend their 'resistance strategy' beyond their traditional regional sphere of influence.
accountBetween 2006 and 2010, China supported UN Security Council resolutions that imposed international sanctions and increased economic pressure on Iran.
perspectiveIran is motivated to align itself with what it perceives as an emerging sphere of Chinese influence.
claimIran and China are expanding their bilateral cooperation into the technology sector.
Iran at a Crossroads: Legitimacy, External Pressure and Regional ... ciris.info 14 facts
claimChina benefits from discounted energy supplies from Iran and the strategic complications caused by international sanctions.
claimChina is cautious about taking on regional security burdens in Iran if instability increases.
claimIn 2025, China and Russia supported Iran in rejecting European efforts to restore United Nations sanctions, which constrained Western leverage.
claimChina's diplomatic posture sometimes aligns with Russia and Iran against Western sanctions at the United Nations, but this does not form a unified ideological front.
claimChina treats Iran primarily as a discounted energy supplier whose utility is constrained by sanctions.
claimIn early 2026, independent Chinese refiners increased their reliance on discounted Iranian heavy crude oil due to widening price differentials and the reduced attractiveness of alternative sanctioned supplies.
claimIran, Russia, and China share a narrative reflex where they frame external pressure as an attack on sovereignty and regime survival to bolster domestic political resistance.
claimChina's stake in Iran is transactional and structural, characterized by sanctions-shadow energy flows that align with a preference to resist unilateral coercion while avoiding overt security ownership.
claimThe crisis in Iran is characterized as an 'Eurasian order shock' because major external powers, including Russia, China, and the European Union, respond to Iranian instability through divergent strategic lenses that dictate their choice of tools.
claimConvergence between Iran, Russia, and China is strongest when it supports domestic legitimation narratives and weakens Western tools, but fades when costs rise or interests diverge.
perspectiveNicole Grajewski characterizes the concept of a Russia-China-Iran 'Axis' as a myth and an illusory entente.
claimChina and Russia joined Iran in rejecting a European proposal to restore sanctions on Tehran on September 1, 2025.
claimThe relationships between Iran, Russia, and China are loose and transactional rather than a formal autocratic alliance.
measurementIn 2025, Chinese buyers absorbed the majority of Iran's seaborne crude exports, with discounted Iranian barrels becoming a significant part of the import mix for independent "teapot" refiners in China.
Iran's Strategic Approach to China, Russia and the GCC globalpolicyjournal.com 10 facts
imageThe photograph accompanying the article 'Iran's Strategic Approach to China, Russia and the GCC' is credited to Mohammad Hassan Taheri.
claimIran's 'Look East' policy, which prioritizes relations with China and Russia, is driven by economic imperatives resulting from Western sanctions, dual security considerations involving power projection and defensive deterrence, and an aspiration to position Iran within an anticipated multipolar global order.
perspectiveThe international community should view Iran's partnerships with China and Russia as foundational elements of a new world order rather than temporary tactical moves, and Western policies should account for this long-term strategic commitment.
claimIran leverages the competition between Russia and China to create strategic opportunities, as the two global powers compete as much as they cooperate.
claimConflicts occurring between 2023 and 2025 have exposed vulnerabilities in Iran's strategic framework, calling into question whether partnerships with China and Russia can provide the strategic resilience Tehran anticipated.
claimIran's joint naval exercises with Russia and China serve primarily as diplomatic theatre rather than preparation for integrated military operations, providing Iran with strategic ambiguity rather than actual operational capabilities or defense guarantees.
referenceThe study 'Iran's Strategic Approach to China, Russia and the GCC' utilizes thematic qualitative content analysis of approximately 70 documents from Iranian state official, advisory, and academic institutions published between 2015 and 2025.
claimDuring the 2025 crisis, Russia and China provided rhetorical backing to Iran but offered limited concrete support.
claimIran's joint naval exercises with Russia and China serve primarily as diplomatic theatre rather than preparation for integrated military operations.
claimThere is a gap between Iran's strategic narrative and reality, as evidenced by the 2025 crisis where Russia and China provided rhetorical backing but limited concrete support to Iran.
Power Transition in the Middle East: The Intersection of US Global ... populismstudies.org 7 facts
perspectiveProfessor Ibrahim Ozturk argues that the 2026 US-Israeli strikes on Iran reflect a strategic intersection of energy security, regional military dynamics, and intensifying great-power rivalry between the United States and China.
claimThe United States aims to keep the conflict with Iran politically contained to prevent the Muslim world from falling under China’s influence and to minimize China’s growing influence in the Global South.
claimChina maintains a heavy reliance on oil imports from Iran.
measurementIran's oil exports account for approximately 13.4 percent of China's total seaborne oil imports, which highlights Iran's role in Beijing's energy security strategy despite international sanctions.
measurementReuters and Modern Diplomacy report that China purchased more than 80 percent of Iran’s total shipped crude oil throughout 2025.
claimThe United States' military actions against Iran are intended to retain strategic control over global energy flows amid rising competition with China.
claimThe current conflict involving Iran and Hamas is being managed to prevent it from escalating into a civilizational clash that could push Muslim-majority societies toward China and expand Beijing's strategic influence across the Global South.
How China and Russia View the Iran War Differently nationalinterest.org 5 facts
claimChina cannot fully align with Iran without jeopardizing its relationship with Israel and, by extension, parts of the West.
claimChina and Russia share commonalities in their foreign policy, including opposition to Western dominance, criticism of Israeli military actions, and the maintenance of close ties with Iran.
claimRussia is less inhibited than China in criticizing Israeli actions and aligning rhetorically with Iran.
claimChina views Iran as an energy supplier, a logistical node in connectivity projects, and a partner within the Global South framework.
claimThe differences in strategic culture between China and Russia will continue to shape their policies toward Iran and Israel, as well as their broader roles in a fragmented global order.
Policy Steps to Prevent a Nuclear Iran | The Washington Institute washingtoninstitute.org 5 facts
claimThe majority of Iran's oil exports are purchased by small 'teapot' refineries in China, while larger Chinese refiners purchase crude oil from Russia and other suppliers to avoid Western sanctions.
measurementIranian oil exports increased to nearly 2 million barrels per day in 2023, the highest level since the 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), driven by increased demand from China and lax enforcement of American sanctions.
claimDeepening military cooperation between Iran and Russia or China could increase the stakes and risks associated with any potential Israeli or U.S. military action against Iran.
claimIran's deepened relationships with Russia and China provided the Iranian regime with perceived protection from the effects of international sanctions.
measurementChina purchases 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports, an increase from 25 percent in 2017, which provides Beijing with significant leverage over Tehran.
Iran War: A Defining Moment for the Middle East—Global Analysis ... ajc.org 4 facts
measurementChina purchased 80% of Iran's exported oil in 2025.
perspectiveChina and North Korea have condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, characterizing them as a violation of Iranian sovereignty and international law.
claimAcross the Indo-Pacific region, most governments have urged restraint and diplomacy regarding the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, with China standing out as the most vocal critic.
claimChina exports dual-use components to Iran that can support Iranian missile and drone capabilities.
An Integrated U.S. Strategy to Address Iran's Nuclear and Regional ... carnegieendowment.org 4 facts
claimThomas Erdbrink reported in the New York Times on July 25, 2017, that Iran is central to China's global ambitions.
claimRussia works in unison with Iran in Syria, Iran is central to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and Europe fears that conflict with Iran would exacerbate regional unrest and increase the number of refugees.
perspectiveThe United States should coordinate with the European Union and E3 partners, as well as Russia and China, to build consensus and maintain tools for addressing nuclear and related challenges involving Iran.
claimThe United States and China jointly chair a working group focused on modernizing the Arak heavy water reactor in Iran to prevent it from producing weapons-grade plutonium.
How China and Russia View the Iran War Differently isdp.eu 4 facts
claimChina and Russia both oppose Western dominance, criticize Israeli military actions, and maintain close ties with Iran.
claimChina's foreign policy strategy regarding Iran is based on economic calculus, viewing Iran as an energy supplier, a logistical node in connectivity projects, and a partner within the Global South.
claimChina maintains a strategy of simultaneous engagement with Iran, Israel, and the Gulf monarchies to remain economically embedded across rival blocs.
claimChina maintains a balancing strategy in the Middle East by simultaneously engaging with Iran, Israel, and the Gulf monarchies to remain economically embedded across rival blocs.
Iran's Geopolitical Footprint: Regional Power or Global Contender? moderndiplomacy.eu 3 facts
claimIran has deepened its relationships with China and Russia in recent years, specifically focusing on military cooperation and trade to counter United States influence and sanctions.
claimIran and China have signed a 25-year cooperation agreement that focuses on trade, energy, and security, providing Iran with an economic lifeline and an alternative to Western markets and technology.
claimIran pursues a policy of 'self-reliance' and strategic autonomy, which involves diversifying international relationships and avoiding full dependence on any single power, including the United States, Russia, or China.
China and Russia's foreign policy in the Middle East and ... wasj.ir 2 facts
claimThe geopolitical strategies of China and Russia regarding the Palestinian issue have facilitated the formation of an alliance and closer ties with Iran and the Resistance Axis.
claimChina and Russia utilize the Palestinian issue as a tool to confront Western influence and strengthen their diplomatic relations with Arab countries and Iran.
We Bombed the Wrong Target Iran's Proxy Network Strategy irregularwarfare.org 2 facts
claimSpain, Chile, Russia, China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt have voiced concern or condemnation regarding U.S. unilateral coercive action against Iran's proxy network.
claimThe United States faces a 'simultaneity problem' where it must manage crises in Venezuela, Greenland, Ukraine, and Iran concurrently while maintaining deterrence against China in the Indo-Pacific.
Iran War Unravels U.S. Strategy and Strengthens Russia–China Axis toda.org 2 facts
What Is the Iran Nuclear Deal? | Council on Foreign Relations cfr.org 2 facts
referenceThe P5+1 group, which negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, consisted of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Germany, with participation from the European Union.
claimThe P5+1, which negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, consisted of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Germany, with participation from the European Union.
What the Iran War Means for China | Foreign Affairs foreignaffairs.com 2 facts
claimChinese strategists view the U.S.-led international system as fraying, noting that recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela and Iran were undertaken with little regard for economic consequences or international law.
claimChina is unlikely to escort shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pressure Tehran, or attempt to replace the United States as the region's policeman, regardless of the duration of the war in Iran.
Winners and Losers: Russia, China, and Europe Respond to the ... carnegieendowment.org 1 fact
claimRussia and China are considered close allies of Iran.
The Geopolitical Competition of the United States, China ... journalisslp.com 1 fact
referenceThe article 'China's Path to Geopolitics: Case Study on China's Iran Policy at the Intersection of Regional Interests and Global Power Rivalry' by A. Stanzel (2022) examines China's policy toward Iran within the context of regional interests and global power competition.
What Comes Next? Iran Through a Middle Powers Lens belfercenter.org 1 fact
claimVietnam's political options are shaped by its historical relationships with Iran and traditional partners including Russia, China, North Korea, and Cuba.
Consequences of the Russia-Ukraine War and the Changing Face ... rand.org 1 fact
referenceMeredith Reid Sarkees and Frank Wayman documented a list of historical conflicts and their major participants in their 2010 book 'Resort to War: 1816–2007', including the Crimean War (1853–1856, France/Great Britain/Ottoman Empire/Russia), the Lopez War (1864–1870, Argentina/Brazil/Paraguay/Uruguay), the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878, Russia/Ottoman Empire), the Boer War (1899–1902, Great Britain/Boers), the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905, Japan/Russia), the Russo-Polish War (1919–1921, Poland/Soviet Union), the Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936, Ethiopia/Italy), the Korean War (1950–1953, United States/North Korea/China/South Korea), the Vietnam War (1965–1975, United States/South Vietnam/North Vietnam), the Sino-Vietnamese War (1979–1987, Vietnam/China), the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989, Soviet Union/Afghanistan), and the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988, Iran/Iraq).
Gilbert Doctorow: Russia & China Reconsider U.S. Relations Over ... singjupost.com 1 fact
perspectiveGilbert Doctorow asserts that Iran is capable of looking after its own interests more effectively than external powers like Russia, China, or the United States.
How Tehran's proxy network could outlast the Iranian regime latimes.com 1 fact
claimProxy groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, utilize front companies and intermediaries in China and the United Arab Emirates to procure advanced weapons technology and drone components while disguising their connections to Iran to evade international sanctions.
War in Ukraine | Global Conflict Tracker - Council on Foreign Relations cfr.org 1 fact
claimRussia maintains partnerships with North Korea and Iran, which share intelligence and military equipment, and with India and China, which purchase Russian oil and gas at discounted prices.
Geopolitical analysis of the imposed war against Iran - Al Jazeera aljazeera.com 1 fact
claimNon-Western powers, specifically China, India, and Russia, are significant variables in international diplomacy, energy markets, and regional stability regarding the conflict with Iran.