You merely quoted what I already addressed. Who else would fund such surveys and how else would they be conducted without their domestic security apparatus arresting respondents? Do you actually believe China has much goodwill among the Iranian people or that Iranians aren't exceptionally sympathetic to the West for a country whose foreign policy is so against the West? It's not Israeli propaganda to point out that the enemy (Iran) of my enemy (West/Israel) isn't necessarily a friend to China, and in fact they have proven to be quite unreliable and incompetent in many affairs while obviously unpopular among their own people, though they'll probably remain successful at suppressing dissent through heavyhanded violence and digital surveillance.
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- Thread starter bd popeye
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You claim that is misinformation, yet your reply actually proves it.
A country that has been sanctioned and bombed by the US and Israel for decades, had countless elites assassinated, and seen its treaties torn up like scrap paper—yet in 2024, it is still "torn between turning east or west"? China signed the 25-year deal with Iran in 2021. But according to you, Iran only decided to "silence pro-West voices" in 2025 after being bombed, assassinated, and becoming an international joke?
This theocratic regime lives in a delusion. It actually thinks it can play both sides. Here is the most important fact: China didn't need Iran to rise, and China’s does not need Iran for its future. In fact, even the Iranian people don't seem to need this delusional regime. The only ones in the China-Iran relationship that needs help are the The Mullahs themselves.
I can't even blame the Iranian public for being pro-West. After all, if the The Mullahs—who have been boombed for decades—still fantasizes about Western approval, how can you blame the citizens? I don't support Western-backed regime change in principle, but if this government falls, it’s entirely self-inflicted. And China will adapt and work with whoever takes over. Frankly, a new pro-West government might be better for business than the current Mullahs. China cooperates well with pro-US Arab states and even with Israel. Who is actually the one refusing to cooperate in the region here?
I don't think its as simple as saying the Mullahs are to blame for Iranians being pro-west. Iranians have been pro west from the Shah's times. It was actually the current regime that has always operated in a very hostile environment inside Iran where they always had to face opposition and doubt for their choices. Essentially the current regime changed the natural trajectory of Iran towards a pro-western direction to then towards islamic shia revolutionary ideology.
Over the years, Iranian have become even more hostile to the current regime so they have to tread very carefully not to make a policy that is so unpopular that they get overthrown.
Ahmadinejad for example was very anti-west and was also very instrumental for Iran's nuke program. But then after him Iranian public voted reformists to power, the regime could see that the public is fed up with the current life under sanctions and wants a deal. So, they made the Iran nuclear deal.
Even today, Iranians again voted a reformist to power. They have shown extreme pro-western tendencies through social media and street protests. So, Mullahs have no choice but to bow to public demands and ask more deals with the west.
The regime keeps making foolish overtures to the west because Iranians have constantly voted people like to that power instead of hardliners.
Sounds like they are calling the bluff.
The bar owners were selling champagne with their advertised “flaming sparklers” attached to it