Iran and China has quietly drafted a sweeping and security partnership.
The draft clear the way for billions of dollars of Chinese investments in energy and other sectors.
undercutting the Trump administration efforts to isolate the Iranian government because of its nuclear and military ambitions.
The document also describes deepening military cooperation potentially giving China foothold in region that has been strategic proccupational if the US.
The partnership was proposed by Xi Jinping China’s President during visit to Iran in 2016.
It was approved by Hasan rohans cabinet iran’s foreign minister.
But the draft is not yet submitted to iran’s parliament for approval.
“Iran and China both view this deal as a strategic partnership in not just expanding their own interests but confronting the U.S.,” said Ali Gholizadeh, an Iranian energy researcher at the University of Science and Technology of China in Beijing. “It is the first of its kind for Iran keen on having a world power as an ally.”
“Two ancient Asian cultures, two partners in the sectors of trade, economy, politics, culture and security with a similar outlook and many mutual bilateral and multilateral interests will consider one another strategic partners,” the document says in its opening sentence.
“The United States will continue to impose costs on Chinese companies that aid Iran, the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism,” a State Department spokeswoman wrote in response to questions about the draft agreement.
