The Belt and Road Initi ati ve (BRI): Implications for Iran-China Relations

Abstract

In 2009 Ben Simpfendorfer published his bestselling book titled The New Silk Road: How a Rising Arab World is Turning Away From the West and Rediscovering China. He wrote among other things: "The Silk Road is about more than a trading route. It is about the historical, geographical, and religious ties that have bound the Silk Road economies together. The rise of China, the rise of oil prices, and the events after September 11 have reinvigorated them, making the Silk Road relevant once again" (Simpfendorfer, 2009: 166-167). The historical trade route was regaining its symbolic meaning. However, at the time nobody expected that four years later the Chinese leadership would propose a resurrection of the old land route and attempt to transform it into the biggest engineering project in world history. Although this time in a very modern way, the idea is the same. Its objective is to embrace landlocked states in Central Asia, establish land connections with Western Asia, Europe, as well as African partners, and become independent from naval powers, especially the US Navy, which controls all strategic points on the maritime route connecting East Asia with Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and Europe.This article focuses on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its potential impact on Iran-China relations in the long term. Various political and economic aspects related to the BRI are taken into consideration. Would both sides benefit from the cooperation in the BRI framework or would one of them maybe have the upper hand? What are the main opportunities and challenges in the case of China-Iran relations and BRI implementation?The work is based on primary sources such as official governmental documents, speeches of influential politicians, and official statistical data. Besides these sources, information from secondary sources was taken into consideration. These sources were relevant monographs, reports, and academic articles. The BelT and Road InITIaTIve: an elemenT of The chInese GRand sTRaTeGYChina has been regaining its position in the international system since 1978, namely since the introduction of Deng Xiaoping reforms and the improvement of relations with the outside world. At the very beginning of the 21 st century, China became a symbol of economic success and the rapid development. Peter Ferdinand argues that "one

China’s “Belt and Road” Economic Diplomacy in the Persian Gulf: Strategic Hedging amidst Saudi–Iranian Regional Rivalry

“…Geographically, Iran is also key to the implementation of the BRI’s China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor (Khatib, 2019; Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, 2019: 11–12). Thus, Iranian participation is deemed necessary by the Chinese to successfully implement the BRI projects in the region (Osiewicz, 2018: 226). China also sees Iran as a counterweight to the US influence in the Gulf.…”

“…China is seen as a country that can invest in Iranian economy and infrastructure to improve Iran’s connectivity. Osiewicz (2018: 225) indicates that for Iran “active participation and engagement in the BRI can only further enhance its regional role.” Iran also appreciates that China has been assisting its nuclear programme despite the sanctions imposed on the country by the international community. However, the perception of China in Iran is more complex and reflects the division between the conservatives and moderates and reformists in Iran.…”

“…Trade and connectivity remain a priority for both China and Iran under the BRI, which is seen as a framework for improving Iranian interconnectivity by development and construction of roads, railroads, and harbours. Osiewicz (2018: 229) goes so far as to claim that “the ultimate success of the BRI depends to a large extent on Iranian participation and support, especially as far as geopolitical and logistical issues are concerned.” Iranian infrastructure is seen as key for the so-called Southern Corridor (China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor) of the BRI passing from China through Central Asia, Iran, Turkey, and to the Balkans (Osiewicz, 2018: 229). China actively participated in Iranian construction projects even before the launch of the BRI, building the world’s tallest dam in the Iranian province of Lorestan and parts of the Teheran metro system (Harold and Nader, 2012: 11).…”

The dragon dithers: assessing the cautious implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Iran

“…Iran was seen as a core country for successful implementation of the BRI due to its strategic position between the Caspian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz and also because of its oil. Osiewicz (2018) considers Iranian participation in the initiative crucial for successful implementation of the BRI in the Middle East. For Iran, the BRI presented an opportunity to improve its connectivity and develop infrastructure and economy seriously harmed by the previously implemented international sanctions.…”

The impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran’s engagement and integration in the Belt and Road Initiative

“…Although several studies have analyzed the political, economic, cultural, and military relations between China and Iran recently (Azad, 2017; Dorraj, 2016; Ekhtiari & Salehi, 2018; Nejhadi, 2016), only few relate to future relationships between Iran and China in the post‐JCPOA era (Osiewicz, 2018a, 2018b). Some studies examined the relations between the two countries in the age of the BRI (Dorraj, 2020; Hoh, 2019; Shariatinia & Azizi, 2017, 2020), while others have chosen to focus mainly on key areas, such as energy security, political relations, trade ties, cultural relations, and security issues (Garver, 2016; Khan & Guo, 2017; Roshan & Deanat, 2018).…”