China’s Iranian Policy / Iran Provides Beijing with Strategic Breathing Space / Weakening Iran Would Harm China

A former Iranian diplomat observes: “Fully aware of the tensions between Iran and the (P)GCC countries—including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain—China takes these conflicts into careful account in its policymaking. At the same time, Iran’s balanced relations with Oman and Qatar are also part of Beijing’s regional calculus. In this context, China seeks to strike a delicate balance among its diverse interests in the region—to reach an ‘optimal point’ where its ties with Iran are preserved without jeopardizing its economic relations with the Arab world.”

According to Khabar Online, relations between Iran and China cannot be reduced merely to economic exchanges or day-to-day political interactions; rather, they must be understood through a broader, more historical lens.

Within this perspective, concepts such as the “civilizational state,” the “Look East” policy, and “balancing against the West” play fundamental roles—without grasping which, one cannot form an accurate and realistic understanding of the relationship between the two nations.

In this interview, Mohammad Masjed-Jamei—former diplomat and professor at the School of International Relations of Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the Institute for Strategic Studies of Contemporary Islam (MERAM)—examines the intellectual and strategic dimensions of Iran–China relations within the framework of new regional and international transformations.

Drawing on his diplomatic experience and deep familiarity with Eastern intellectual and civilizational structures, Masjed-Jamei analyzes the historical and identity-based roots of China’s foreign policy, the nature of its political order and power, and Iran’s place within China’s worldview.

On the Concept of the “Civilizational State”

China’s civilizational, historical, and structural characteristics play a decisive role in shaping both its foreign and domestic policies. China is a vast country with an ancient heritage and a massive population—predominantly ethnic Han. This cohesive identity, forged over centuries, has absorbed other ethnicities into the dominant Han culture. Such historical and cultural cohesion not only defines China’s national interests and creates consensus around them but also provides resilience against external pressures.

Because of its historical experience, China’s decision-making is highly cautious and calculated. This caution has made its foreign policy pragmatic rather than emotional or reactive. Decisions are based on long-term interests and realism, not on sentiment or short-term pressures.

Domestically, China operates through a centralized, hierarchical system that extends from the lowest to the highest levels of authority. Society has adapted to this order, which in turn lends consistency, coordination, and stability to China’s foreign policy.

China’s Approach to the Middle East

Since the end of World War II, the Middle East has remained a central arena in international politics—unlike sub-Saharan Africa, which at times faded from global focus. The region’s vast energy reserves, strategic geography, the Arab–Israeli conflict, and waves of ideological radicalism (from Baathism and Nasserism to extremist movements) have ensured its persistent global relevance. During the Cold War, it was effectively a battleground for superpower influence.

China, having emerged in recent decades as a major world power, cannot ignore such a region. While its engagement is not limited to economics, trade, finance, and infrastructure cooperation do play significant roles. Yet, behind these lies a strategic and forward-looking vision. Middle Eastern countries are eager to leverage China’s financial and technical capabilities for development—especially after the Ukraine crisis.

Thus, China is cultivating an active yet carefully calculated presence in the Middle East—one that is not merely economic but part of its broader, long-term strategy to play a balanced and sustainable role in the evolving international order. This presence, defined by pragmatism and caution, seeks to safeguard China’s long-term interests amid the region’s complex dynamics without entangling it in direct regional or great-power rivalries.

Iran’s Role in China’s Global Strategy

In assessing Iran–China relations, two dimensions must be distinguished:

1. Iran as a civilizational and historical reality, rich in natural resources and cultural depth, independent of any specific political system.

2. Iran as it exists today—its political order and its distinct international posture.

From Beijing’s perspective, Iran serves as a counterbalancing force—especially against Western, and particularly Anglo-Saxon, pressure—and thus provides China with strategic breathing space. Yet, given China’s extensive relations with the West, Beijing avoids any stance that might appear as overtly siding with Iran at the expense of its broader global interests.

Regionally, the Arab Middle East is crucial to China. Its trade with Arab states—especially (P)GCC members—far exceeds that with Iran. These countries have long-term economic plans involving China, and Beijing is well aware of their sensitivities and rivalries with Tehran. Hence, China handles its relationship with Iran with utmost care, maintaining friendship while ensuring its economic and strategic interests in the Arab world remain intact.

Unlike China’s deeply rooted strategic partnership with Pakistan—built on mutual trust and historical cooperation—the relationship with Iran has yet to reach that level and perhaps never will, due largely to China’s inherently cautious and calculated foreign policy and the unique characteristics of Iranian society.

Overall, modern Chinese foreign policy—unlike Mao’s era—has moved away from confrontation toward pragmatism and balance. Iran is seen as a valuable strategic partner, yet the depth of support and cooperation is calibrated according to China’s long-term interests. Beijing’s Iran policy, therefore, is a blend of caution, realism, and strategic foresight.

The Impact of the Ukraine War and Broader Context

China views itself as the quintessential civilizational state, and through that lens seeks to quietly reshape global economic, financial, and credit systems long dominated by Western—particularly Anglo-Saxon—institutions like the World Bank and IMF. This gradual redefinition represents a subtle, soft challenge to the existing world order.

Within this framework, China engages with diverse countries—from the Taliban and Myanmar to Venezuela and Nicaragua—based on a “win–win” principle, free of Western-style political or human-rights conditionalities. Iran fits neatly within this pattern: a civilizational and politically independent state whose defiance of Western dominance gives it special value for China.

In contrast to other Middle Eastern actors with limited relevance in this civilizational competition, Iran is a pivotal player. For China, Iran is not just a regional partner but part of a global equation countering Western hegemony. Hence, the weakening or collapse of Iran would be detrimental to China, as Iran functions as a restraining force against Western dominance.

China, therefore, seeks to bolster Iran’s resilience—particularly in technical and defense cooperation—so long as doing so does not provoke excessive Western or regional backlash. From Beijing’s standpoint, Iran’s strength contributes to global balance; yet this support remains measured and discreet, carefully avoiding regional destabilization or overexposure.

Iran’s “Look East” Policy and the Limits of Cooperation with India

Iran’s post-1979 “Look East” policy emerged as a strategic response to Western-imposed isolation, rooted in an anti-Western discourse shaped by historical experience. Within that framework, China—an ascendant non-Western power without a colonial past in the region and endowed with immense economic and technological capacity—appeared a natural alternative partner.

India, however, despite its size and membership in BRICS, has not become a strategic partner for Iran. Reasons include:

The Kashmir issue, a sensitive red line for New Delhi.

Structural differences: China’s centralized one-party system ensures national policy coherence, whereas India’s federal, bureaucratic system often stalls implementation.

Industrial capacity: China’s superior infrastructure and project execution capabilities far surpass India’s, as illustrated by delays in Chabahar Port.

Policy orientation: India’s “strategic multi-alignment” seeks legitimacy in the West—especially through the Quad alliance and anti-terror narratives—which limits its willingness to engage deeply with Iran.

Thus, despite surface-level similarities, India cannot serve as Iran’s long-term strategic partner; China, with its centralized structure, vast economic power, and non-ideological diplomacy, remains the more reliable pillar of Tehran’s eastern orientation.

China, Russia, and Iran

While China and Russia maintain a comprehensive strategic partnership since 1996—marked by complementarity in energy, defense, and diplomacy—their cooperation does not dictate China’s Iran policy. Beijing determines its approach toward Tehran independently, based on its own civilizational, geopolitical, and long-term calculations.

Although all three share opposition to U.S. hegemony and the Anglo-Saxon world order, China’s engagement with Iran is guided primarily by its autonomous strategic reasoning, not its alignment with Moscow.
 

Balancing Iran and the Arab World

Iran’s role in China’s foreign policy must be seen within the broader context of Beijing’s multifaceted ties with the rest of the Middle East. Economically, the Arab world—particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE—holds enormous importance for China as energy suppliers and global trade hubs. Consequently, China’s economic interaction with the Arab states vastly outweighs its trade with Iran.

Nevertheless, at the civilizational and geopolitical level, Iran occupies a distinct position. To China, Iran is not merely an energy partner but a political and civilizational actor that, through its independence and anti-Western stance, aligns naturally with Beijing’s long-term global posture.

Hence, China quietly but deliberately factors Iran’s strategic value into its regional calculations. The stability and continuity of Iran’s regional role serve China’s broader objectives—while Iran’s weakening would, without question, harm Beijing’s interests.

Conscious of regional rivalries and sensitivities, China continuously recalibrates its Middle East policy to maintain equilibrium—preserving its friendship with Iran while sustaining vital economic ties with Arab states. This balancing act reflects the essence of China’s cautious, pragmatic diplomacy.

Toward a Deeper Mutual Understanding

For Beijing, relations with Iran have always been a mixture of pragmatism and caution; for Tehran, cooperation with China has been a strategic necessity amid Western sanctions and isolation. The main challenge lies not in political disagreements but in mutual misunderstanding—particularly cultural and perceptual gaps.

China recognizes that despite official anti-Western rhetoric, many in Iran’s policymaking and intellectual circles remain culturally oriented toward the West. This creates a subtle bias against Chinese technology and industry, perpetuating the outdated notion of “cheap Chinese goods”—a perception far removed from present-day realities.

To strengthen ties, Iran must develop a deeper understanding of China’s intellectual, cultural, and decision-making frameworks. Only through appreciating the civilizational and historical layers underlying Chinese policy can Iran elevate the relationship from transactional cooperation to a durable strategic partnership.

If Tehran adopts a pragmatic, culturally informed approach, it will foster trust, dispel misconceptions, and expand cooperation across economic, technological, and political domains—an outcome that, in the current international climate, serves the strategic interests of both nations.