[noemon]

China and Iran have agreed a 25-year co-operation deal that gives Beijing a foothold in the Middle East and complicates President Biden’s efforts to bring Tehran back to the 2015 nuclear deal.

The agreement, signed in Tehran over the weekend, secures the two nations’ status as strategic partners, Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, said.

It will see China increase its investment in Iran’s infrastructure and energy sectors, bringing it into Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Wang also reiterated Beijing’s support for Iran against US sanctions, calling Washington’s maximum pressure “an illegal and inhumane act”.

“Our relations with Iran will not be affected by the current situation, but will be permanent and strategic. Iran decides independently on its relations with other countries and is not like some countries that change their position with one phone call,” Wang added.

President Rouhani said the deal was “very important and can change the current situation”, hinting at the emergence of a bloc of nations under US sanctions as a rift between China and the West deepens.

The agreement came just a day after Beijing sanctioned two officials from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and a Canadian MP, following similar moves against the EU and UK politicians critical of Beijing’s treatment of Uighurs in the western region of Xinjiang.

The sanctions only “contribute to the growing international scrutiny of the genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang,” Anthony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said. “We stand in solidarity with Canada, the UK, the EU, and other partners and allies around the world in calling on [China] to end the human rights violations and abuses.”

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, called the sanctions “an attack on transparency and freedom of expression — values at the heart of our democracy”.

Iran is under heavy US sanctions, reimposed by Donald Trump as he dismantled the nuclear deal negotiated by Rouhani and President Obama. That agreement obliged Iran to wind back its nuclear programme in return for the easing of sanctions.

Biden has pledged to return to the deal, but is insisting Tehran first cut the programme to a level well below that needed to build a nuclear warhead. However, Iran maintains that the US must first start easing sanctions. Its growing ties with Beijing will only escalate the stand off, as China-US relations collapse.

China and Iran have been building ties for a number of years amid an expanding web of trade and finance alliances between countries targeted by US sanctions. Beijing imports about 306,000 barrels of Iranian oil a day, a volume that is likely to increase thanks to the new agreement.

Huawei, the Chinese communications giant, was revealed last year to have been shipping US-made computer equipment to Iran and running a local franchise there. It also took over the development of Iran’s 5G network after Ericsson, a Swedish company, pulled out because of sanctions.

Venezuela, Russia, Syria, Belarus and North Korea are also under varying levels of US sanctions, while limited embargoes have been placed on Turkey over its purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defence system. Many, including Iran, have begun experimenting with cryptocurrencies as a way to continue to trade without using the US dollar.

The world will eventually split between those who have the right to vote for their leaders and those who don't.

Between free people and slaves.

[Patrickov]

The problem is how to resolve this situation, not whether this exists or not.

[Istanbuller]

Biden administration's policy failures. US's sanction threats make many countries switch sides. Many more will follow. What we are seeing here is first scenes of Xi's imperial presidency as he enters in his 3rd term

[Patrickov]

Biden administration's policy failures.

What failure did Biden commit in the past 2 months to be exact?

I don't like his administration, but it's far too early to deduce anything. On the other hand, you seem to spew nothing other than slandering trollish shit.

[Istanbuller]

What failure did Biden commit in the past 2 months to be exact?

I don't like his administration, but it's far too early to deduce anything. On the other hand, you seem to spew nothing other than slandering trollish shit.

Biden officials announced to take a hard stance on numerous countries such as Russia, Turkey, Qatar and so on. It means that Obama era political and financial sanctions will be back. Economies of these countries are already in a very bad shape. They can't survive another hit. We are broke.

China's foreign minister called Turkey a few days ago. I am sure that Ankara is ready to support China if it gets some financial aid in return. Iranians were desperate. No option left but to give up some of our sovereignty to China. Maybe it is better that China fights for us too.

[Beren]

Biden administration's policy failures. US's sanction threats make many countries switch sides.

Do you mean Iran having switched sides from Russia to China?

It had nothing to do with Biden, though.

[noemon]

Biden administration's policy failures. US's sanction threats make many countries switch sides. Many more will follow. What we are seeing here is first scenes of Xi's imperial presidency as he enters in his 3rd term

I have zero respect for people who are incapable of taking responsibility for their own words.

You have been warmongering against Greece & Europe for several months. You are openly calling for war and death against the infidels, you are claiming sovereign Greek territory between 2 opposing Greek shores, you want to revise our Peace Treaty from 100 years ago and now that you are being internationally isolated for you pathetic actions you cry that you are the "victims of sanctions".

It's not just pathetic, it's beyond that.

Instead of self-criticising your own words in here, you want to go fall in the arms of China.

And that is precisely the difference between free people and slaves. You are not sovereign, Erdogan is(and not for very long as Xi will become the sovereign) and you are his slaves.

The bottom line is what do you want to be?

A slave or a free man? Choose you poison and stick with it.

Iranians were desperate.

Iranians have been looking forward for Biden to normalise relations just like Obama had done but now that Iran blindsided the US with China, the removal of western sanctions under the European Agreement will certainly be called into question.