Iran’s Pragmatic Approach in Accommodating China’s Belt and Road Initiative: A Determinant for Future Closer Bilateral Cooperation

Decades of Iran’s diplomatic tug-of-war with the United States and the sustained US embargo vis-a-vis that country has generally created dual impacts on the Islamic Republic for several years now: One can be seen in terms of how the embargo has effected the Iranian economy while the other side can be seen through the flourishing economic and political ties between Iran and China. Given China’s role as a rising global power, Iran’s willingness to accommodate China’s Belt and Road Initiative may not be seen as the best choice but the most practical and pragmatic option to secure Iran’s national economic and political interests in the presence of external pressures from the United States as well as from several members of the international community. Controversies surrounding the Iranian nuclear program as well as Iran’s staunch foreign policy on anti-imperialism and non-intervention by extra-regional players since the early years of the Islamic Republic remain the critical factors that constrained Iran from fully developing its economic and political relations, particularly with the United States. With China’s Belt and Road Initiative offering an alternative and “no-strings attached” strategic option for Iran, the future bilateral relations are expected to be productive and mutually beneficial to both nations. As such, this article will seek to elucidate the following research questions: How has China’s Belt and Road Initiative secured Iran’s national economic and political interests? How are the solidifying bilateral relations benefitting China as a rising challenger of the United States on the global stage? Finally, what prospects will the bilateral relations bring to each country going forward?