Part of: Prelims and GS-II International Relations
Context China would begin implementing a strategic agreement with Iran, strengthening economic and political cooperation between the two countries as China condemned USA’s sanctions on Iran.
Key takeaways
China and Iran signed the agreement with the wide-ranging partnership set to span areas including energy, security, infrastructure and communications.
China is Iran’s leading trade partner and was one of the biggest buyers of the country’s oil before then-U.S. president Donald Trump reimposed sweeping unilateral sanctions in 2018.
China has officially stopped importing oil from Iran, but analysts say Iranian crude is continuing to enter the country disguised as imports from other countries.
Vienna talks
The agreement is also significant because talks continue in Vienna over a potential deal to halt Iran’s development of nuclear weapons.
A 2015 deal — agreed by Iran, the U.S., China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany — offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.
But the U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018, reimposing biting sanctions and prompting Iran to begin rolling back on its commitments.
