Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, (C), sign an agreement in the capital Tehran, Iran, on March 27, 2021. China and Iran signed the Iran–China 25-year Cooperation Program in 2021, a partnership that some analysts say deepens Iran’s economic dependence on Beijing. AFP via Getty Images
China has officially designated Iran as its primary partner in the Middle East, following the signing of a 25-year cooperation agreement between the two countries in 2021. China relies heavily on Iranian oil; however, if the Iranian regime were to collapse, China could emerge as the biggest loser.
John Mills
Author
Col. (Ret.) John Mills is a national security professional with service in five eras: Cold War, Peace Dividend, War on Terror, World in Chaos, and now, Great Power Competition. He is the former director of cybersecurity policy, strategy, and international affairs at the Department of Defense. Mills is a senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy. He is the author of “The Nation Will Follow” and “War Against the Deep State.” ColonelRETJohn2 on “X”, ColonelRETJohn on Substack, GETTR, and Truth Social
