Abstract :
Iran-China bilateral relations, established in 1971, have experienced quite
substantial change in the post-1979 period, especially since the end of the
Cold War. Both countries, despite fundamental differences in ideology and
governance structure, and based on a number of areas of commonality, most
prominently similar international outlook as developing states of the South,
and based on mutual need in economic fields, most notably energy, and also
in the military field, chose to expand their relations in various areas. The
present article looks into the development of these bilateral relations since
early 1980s and discusses two sets of factors that have impacted them;
conducive factors and constraining factors. The article argues that while the
conducive factors have contributed to the expansion and deepening of
Tehran-Beijing relations during the period under review, China’s grand
strategy towards becoming a world power and the requisite policy of
rapprochement with the West, the U.S. in particular, have in fact intervened to
constrain China’s relations with other states – among them, Iran.
Simultaneously, perpetuation of a state of tension between Iran and the U.S.
in the post-1979 period, and especially since 2003 over the nuclear issue, and
hence, U.S. pressure of sorts on China, have also played a critical role in
complicating Iran-China relations. China’s support since 2006 for the UN
Security Council sanctions resolutions on Iran, despite Iran’s emphasis on the
“Look to the East Policy” since 2005, has reflected the Chinese predicament
and served to constrain the relations, even to some extent in the energy field.
The article concludes that notwithstanding inevitable constraints in Iran-
China relations due to the factors involved, both countries will continue to
maintain their relations in the economic and energy fields and on
international-multilateral issues of mutual interest
