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Sanctions and Isolation, the Driving Force of Sino-Iranian Relations

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Abstract

Iran-China relations have strengthened over the past decades. From an economic point of view, Iran has been an attractive destination for the Chinese businesses that are in search of new markets to expand the scope of their economic activities through trade, investment, and partnership. China has at the same time offered Iran a valuable alternative to the western economies, which gradually (and partly due to the economic sanctions imposed on Iran) decreased their level of engagement with Iran. Moreover, the relationships between China and Iran have expanded gradually to military and security cooperation. This paper will examine the development of various aspects of Sino-Iranian relations.

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Notes

  1. World Bank, http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTMENA/Resources/MENA_China_India_Sept08.pdf (accessed July 2015).

  2. The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/feb/06/iran-oil-exports-destination (accessed July 2015).

  3. Iran Premier, http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2014/jan/29/iran-and-asia-1-china-quiet-giant (accessed July 2015).

  4. Burman, E. (2009). China and Iran Parallel History, Future Threat? Glocestershire: History Press.

  5. Ibid.

  6. Ibid.

  7. ISNA, http://isna.ir/fa/news/92113020882/سیاست-های-کلی-اقتصاد-مقاومتی-ابلاغ-شد (accessed July 2015).

  8. Al-Monitor, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/02/decoding-resistance-economy-iran.html# (accessed July 2015).

  9. Ibid.

  10. New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/23/world/missile-reportedly-fired-by-iran-damages-a-kuwaiti-oil-terminal.html (accessed July 2015).

  11. Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control Risk Report, http://www.wisconsinproject.org/countries/iran/iran-missile-1997.html (accessed July 2015).

  12. Op. cit Currier, C. L and Dorraj, M. (2009).

  13. Op. cit. Shichor, Y. (2006).

  14. CNSNews, http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/chinese-president-veiled-warning-us-don-t-try-monopolize-regional (accessed July 2015).

  15. This is mainly due to the financial support of the GCC states to Saddam Hussein and Iraq’s better access to international defense market.

  16. CNN, http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/29/world/meast/syria-iran-china-russia-supporters/ (accessed July 2015).

  17. Except for the cyber security, which is not a sign of expansion of the relations towards more intervention by China in the region.

  18. Particularly development of laser technology for enrichment.

  19. Rand Corporation Occasional Paper, http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP351.html (accessed July 2015).

  20. Bloomberg News, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-10/u-s-concerned-chinese-companies-may-be-aiding-iran-nuclear-weapon-effort.html (accessed July 2015).

  21. The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/28/iran-and-china-deepen-a-blue-water-friendship/ (accessed July 2015).

  22. The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2013/feb/20/china-floods-iran-cheap-consumer-goods (accessed July 2015).

  23. EIA, http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=ch (accessed July 2015).

  24. IMF (2006). Direction of Trade Statistics Year-book.

  25. Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, http://www.iags.org/china.htm (accessed July 2015).

  26. Al-Arabiya News, http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2013/02/10/265463.html (accessed July 2015).

  27. http://thediplomat.com/2013/10/china-and-iran-destined-to-clash/1/ (accessed July 2015).

  28. Al-Arabiya News, http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/05/192618.html (accessed July 2015).

  29. Wall Street Journal, http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-imports-record-amount-of-iranian-crude-1405946504 (accessed July 2015).

  30. http://www.eghtesadnews.com/Live/Stories/DEN-105034/بدهی_50_میلیارد_دلاری_چین_به_ایران (accessed July 2015).

  31. A government think-tank affiliated with the Iranian Parliament.

  32. http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/208683/کاهش-نرخ-خودرو-با-هدف-واردات-از-چین (accessed July 2015).

  33. Ibid.

  34. It is the most prominent Shia theology teaching centre in Iran.

  35. http://www.mehrnews.com/news/1581797/واردات-بی-رویه-از-چین-کارگر-و-کارخانه-دار-مسلمان-را-بیکار-و (accessed July 2015).

  36. UN, http://www.un.org/press/en/2010/sc9948.doc.htm (accessed July 2015).

  37. Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/06/11/ahmadinejad-calls-resolution-worthless-paper/ (accessed July 2015).

  38. Ibid.

  39. This is in contrast with the difficult history between Iran and the USA since 1979.

  40. Deutsche Welle Persian, http://www.dw.de/انتقاد-از-دولت-به-دلیل-واگذاری-بازار-ایران-به-چین/a-16005678 (accessed July 2015).

  41. Other international investors, who were involved in Iran prior to toughened economic sanctions, have gradually withdrawn their investments in Iran.

  42. Platts, http://www.platts.com/latest-news/oil/tehran/iran-decides-to-take-azadegan-oil-field-back-26778914 (accessed July 2015).

  43. http://www.mehrnews.com/news/2443453/وضعیت-توسعه-آزادگان-6-پس-از-اخراج-چینی (accessed July 2015).

  44. http://www.tasnimnews.com/Home/Single/588170 (accessed July 2015).

  45. http://www.tasnimnews.com/Home/Single/588170 (accessed July 2015).

  46. Op cit Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (2002).

  47. http://tnews.ir/news/5F4218327569.html (accessed July 2015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regent’s University London, London, UK

    Sara Bazoobandi

  2. Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London, UK

    Sara Bazoobandi

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  1. Sara Bazoobandi
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Correspondence to Sara Bazoobandi.

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Bazoobandi, S. Sanctions and Isolation, the Driving Force of Sino-Iranian Relations. East Asia 32, 257–271 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-015-9244-4

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