Following Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s fatal helicopter crash, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) foreign minister, Wang Yi, met with Russia’s foreign minister in Kazakhstan to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
Mr. Raisi’s helicopter crashed on May 19, and he was confirmed dead on May 20.
Later on May 20, Mr. Wang met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a Eurasian political, economic, security, and defense organization led by China and Russia.
According to the CCP’s official reports, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East during the meeting.
Mr. Wang told Mr. Lavrov that both countries should prepare for more bilateral exchanges within the year, continue to increase mutual support, and consolidate the basic foundation of cooperation.
After Mr. Raisi’s death, both CCP leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed to have lost a “good friend” and praised Mr. Raisi’s role in developing the strategic partnership between the two countries.
In mid-March, China, Russia, and Iran conducted joint military exercises in the Arabian Sea. China is also the largest buyer of Iranian oil.
Chung Chih-tung, an assistant researcher at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told The Epoch Times on May 21 that the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers usually exchange intelligence through such meetings and that they definitely shared their countries’ views on Mr. Raisi’s crash at this meeting.
Su Tze-yun, director of the Division of Defense Strategy and Resources at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told The Epoch Times that Mr. Raisi’s death will lead to some changes within Iran.
“After all, there are different forces within Iran, so after the president who was more pro-China and Russia died, a new president must be elected,” Mr. Su said.
“In this situation, if Iran’s diplomatic direction changes, it will certainly not be good news for Beijing and Moscow, especially since Beijing needs a lot of oil from Iran.”
Mr. Chung said that Iran, like Russia, faces severe sanctions from the West and that the CCP has adopted the same two-faced approach in dealing with relations with Iran as it has with Russia.
“The CCP has been using Iran to mediate issues with Arab countries and to demonstrate its influence in the Middle East. Western countries have also hoped that through its influence on Iran, China can have a so-called influence on Middle East conflicts and the issue of nuclear weapons,” he said.
“It is particularly worth noting that even if the CCP and Iran have a united front, the CCP does not want to be negatively affected by Iran, because it wants to make deals with Western countries. The CCP does not want its dealings with Western countries to be undermined by Iran.”
Mr. Su said that considering the effect of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and Hamas leaders on May 20, the new Iranian president is likely to think differently and may have a slightly softened attitude toward the West.
“But he will not turn away from cooperation with the CCP and Russia,” he said. “It may just ease the situation in the Middle East a little, that’s all.”
Mr. Chung said he believes that the strategic partnership and alliance among the CCP, Iran, and Russia will not change.
“These three countries are basically isolated by the international community,“ he said. ”They are teaming up for ‘warmth.’ No matter who the president of Iran is, this will not change.”
