(Edited with AI)
China has always been careful about how much it supports Iran—and for good reason.
Iran’s foreign policy has long been one of extremes: refusing to recognize Israel while openly calling for its destruction, maintaining tense (or outright hostile) relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, and even having shaky ties with regional players like Turkey and Pakistan. Add to that Iran’s deeply negative reputation in the U.S., and you are in a pickle.
The problem? Iran’s goals have never matched its actual capabilities. Pushing aggressive policies while lacking the economic or military strength to back them up makes for an unstable long-term strategy.
So why was China cautious? Simple—it had (and still has) way too much to lose.**
- Strong ties with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, crucial for energy and investment.
- Surprisingly functional relations with Israel, where political rhetoric doesn’t always match reality (e.g., Israel was an early adopter of Chinese-made DJI drones for military use).
- A desire to avoid unnecessary blowback from the U.S. and its allies.
China wasn’t about to risk its own strategic interests just to fully align with Iran. Instead, it kept support measured—enough to maintain influence, but not so much that it would upset more important partnerships.
