Highlights
- Work has started on the 25-year Mahadeal between Iran and China last year
- The Foreign Minister of Iran has announced this to implement the deal during his first visit to China.
- Not only this, China is now going to start its commercial center in Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Work has begun on the 25-year Mahadeal between Iran and China last year. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian made this announcement during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first visit to China. Not only this, China is now going to start its commercial center in Bandar Abbas, Iran. In fact, in view of the tension with America-Israel, Iran has started strengthening its friendship with China rapidly. It is being told that 5 thousand Chinese soldiers will also be stationed in Iran. This has created a big crisis for India.
The Iranian Foreign Minister did not say on which project work has started between China and Iran. This ‘strategic agreement’ was signed between China and Iran during the tenure of former President Hassan Rouhani in March 2021. It emphasizes economic, military and security cooperation. That too when both the countries are facing US sanctions at different levels. Defying US sanctions, China is buying oil from Iran at a cheaper rate.
Iran bans India from Farzad B gas project
The Iranian Foreign Minister has carried a letter containing a highly confidential message from President Ibrahim Raisi, which has been given to the Chinese President. The Reich administration has promised that it will pursue an Asia-centered foreign policy. The growing friendship between China and Iran has created a big crisis for India. India has invested billions of rupees in Iran’s Chabahar port, but the growing role of China is raising doubts about it.
Not only this, Iran had given a blow of billions of dollars to India in the past. Iran has kept India running from the Farzad B gas project. This gas field was discovered by India’s ONGC Videsh Limited. Iran has now decided to develop this gas field itself. Earlier, Iran had rejected India’s $2 billion proposal for the Chabahar railway link project.
Actually, Iran has signed a $400 billion deal with China for 25 years. After the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018, Iran has been badly hit by US sanctions and is short of money. After the Mahadeal from China, now a lot of money is coming to Iran. Not only this, China has significantly increased the import of oil from Iran, unlike India. Apart from this, Iran is getting a lot of money from China. On the strength of Chinese money, now Iran is going to develop Farzad B gas field itself.
China will buy oil from Iran for the next 25 years at a very low price
Iran and China have set a target to increase bilateral trade by 10 times to $600 billion in the next 10 years. The 18-page documents of this Sino-Iran deal show that China will buy oil from Iran for the next 25 years at very low prices. In return, China will invest in banking, infrastructure such as telecommunications, ports, railways, and transport. It is believed that after this deal, Iran will have access to Baidu, which is called the GPS of China. Not only this, China can help start 5G service in Iran. China is Iran’s largest trading partner.
The Sino-Iran deal also includes military cooperation such as weapons development, joint training and intelligence training to combat “terrorism, drug and human trafficking, and cross-border crimes.” It is being said that China will also deploy its 5000 soldiers in Iran. China’s plan is to extend the China Pakistan Economic Corridor running in Pakistan to Iran.
China’s presence in Iran poses a threat to Indian investments
If China makes its military hold in this area, then there will be a crisis on US military influence in West Asia. China has already built a huge naval base in Djibouti, Africa. If analysts are to be believed, India may also get a setback from this deal. India has spent billions of rupees on the development of Chabahar, the port of Iran. India’s relations with Iran are in a delicate phase due to pressure from America. Chabahar is very important strategically as well as commercially.
It is just 100 km away from Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, developed with the help of China. Chabahar is believed to be the answer to Gwadar. In such a situation, the presence of China will create difficulties for Indian investment. India may also have to choose between America, Saudi Arabia, Israel vs Iran. There was a time when Iran was India’s main oil supplier, but due to US pressures, New Delhi had to almost eliminate oil imports from Tehran. The presence of China in Iran has created a crisis for Indian investments.
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