China Shows No Sign of Abandoning Iran as US Pressure Mounts
As US pressure on Tehran intensifies, Beijing’s economic and diplomatic ties with Iran are being tested, but a Tehran-based journalist says China’s support for its strategic partner goes beyond rhetoric.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
China has shown little sign of backing away from Iran despite a renewed US campaign to isolate Tehran economically, as Beijing’s strategic and commercial ties with the Islamic Republic come under growing pressure.
The question of how far China is prepared to support Iran has taken on greater significance since the United States and Israel launched military action against Tehran. Critics have argued that Beijing’s support for Iran has largely remained at the level of diplomatic statements, rather than extending to direct military involvement.
But Tehran-based journalist Navid Zarrinnal argues that such a reading understates the nature of the China-Iran relationship.
Speaking to journalist Amanda Yee of BreakThrough News, Zarrinnal said China’s support should be assessed through its economic, diplomatic and strategic engagement with Iran rather than by whether Beijing has entered the conflict militarily.
His argument comes as Washington intensifies its economic campaign against Tehran.
On August 24, the US Treasury launched what it called “Operation Economic Outcast”, describing it as an unprecedented campaign designed to sever Iran’s economic links around the world. The measures targeted Iranian networks and entities in several countries, including China and Hong Kong.
China has pushed back against the campaign. Beijing has condemned the sanctions and said its cooperation with Tehran is conducted within international law and should not be disrupted. Chinese officials have also warned that Beijing would take measures to protect its interests.
For Zarrinnal, that response is significant. He argues that China’s relationship with Iran is not simply a matter of political rhetoric, but part of a wider strategic relationship that has developed over years.
China is also Iran’s most important economic partner and a major buyer of its oil, making Beijing particularly important to any US attempt to isolate Tehran economically. Analysts have warned that Washington’s campaign could therefore place US-China relations under additional strain.
The SCO signal
Another important element of the discussion is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, where member states adopted the Bishkek Declaration.
The declaration condemned military strikes on Iranian territory, reaffirmed support for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for the conflict to be resolved through political and diplomatic means. It also opposed unilateral coercive measures that violate international law or harm the global economy.
China’s President Xi Jinping used the summit to argue for a more “equal and orderly” multipolar world and criticised what he described as a resurgence of hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism.
For Tehran, the declaration offered diplomatic backing at a moment of intense pressure.
But the SCO should not be mistaken for a military alliance committed to defending Iran. Its members have different interests and approaches to the conflict, while China has continued to avoid direct military involvement.
That distinction is central to understanding Beijing’s position.
A strategic relationship, not a blank cheque
China’s support for Iran does not necessarily mean that Beijing will intervene militarily on Tehran’s behalf.
Rather, its approach appears to combine economic engagement, diplomatic opposition to unilateral sanctions and a broader challenge to a US-dominated international system.
That makes China’s position more complicated than either a simple alliance or an abandonment of Iran.
The United States has made clear that countries and companies maintaining significant economic links with Tehran could face further pressure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described the campaign as an effort to cut off Iran’s economic lifelines.
China, meanwhile, has signalled that it will defend its economic interests.
For Zarrinnal, Beijing’s refusal to simply comply with Washington’s pressure is evidence that the China-Iran relationship remains strategically important.
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