Iran and China to finalize 25-year Strategic Partnership 

Iran and China to finalize 25-year Strategic Partnership 

 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Internation Affairs; Policies affecting India’s interests 

 In news: 

• Iran and China are close to finalize a 25-year Strategic Partnership. 
• The Comprehensive Plan for Cooperation between Iran and China will include Chinese involvement in Chabahar’s duty-free zone, an oil refinery nearby, and possibly a larger role in Chabahar port as well. 
• Iran decided to go head on its own with the construction of a railway line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, dropping India, which had signed MoU in 2016. 

Do you know? 

• Iran proposed a tie-up between the Chinese-run Pakistani port at Gwadar and Chabahar last year, and has offered interests to China in the Bandar-e-Jask port 350km away from Chabahar, as well as in the Chabahar duty-free zone. 
• Iran-China deal impinges on India’s “strategic ties” with Iran and the use of Chabahar port.