Geopolitical implications of Iranian President Raisi’s visit to China

A couple of years ago, Iran and China had signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement. Over the years, the ties between the two nations have been going on deeper and deeper undermining what the US detests a lot.

New Delhi, Feb 14: When the phrase 'axis of evil' was coined by former US President George Bush in the early 2000, it had Iran, Iraq and North Korea. However, since then a lot has changed. Especially since the Iraq invasion only two nations are left in the Axis; however, it appears that the new entry could be of China after the spy balloon incident.

China is bringing Iran closer has become quite clear. Although reports were there that the Iranian President was expected to visit China, the confirmation has finally come from the Chinese side itself. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made it public that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is set to visit her country.

The three-day visit will include meetings with Xi Jinping. China is facing heat from the USA as its spy balloon was caught snooping on the American vital installations. The US shot down the balloon and upped its ante in the South China Sea. The economic sanctions are already there against the company that made those spy balloons.

Ganging up against the US

Generally, bilateral relations are meant to be enhanced mutually but in the current situation, Iran is looking for partners who could help it against the US. Not just that Iran is facing huge civil unrest as women are protesting against the regressive regime imposing Islamic dress code, massive unemployment and inflation has hit it deep.

The Iranian President's visit is more about strengthening the ties with China against the US. Interestingly enough, China has been cozying up a lot with Saudi Arabia lately and it is quite public that Iran and Saudi Arabia don't really gel well. Raisi would not be alone in the visit as he would be carrying a whole lot of business magnets along.

After the economic sanctions from the Western countries, Iran has been performing poorly on the economic front. Therefore, it is now looking for new partners like China, this trip from Raisi would also mean a number of business deals with the Chinese business organizations. Xi Jinping in his earlier meeting with Raisi at Samarkand had well addressed Iran's concerns.

Coincidentally, China very smartly has been buying Iranian oil despite the sanction imposed by the Western countries on Iran's oil. A couple of years ago, the two nations signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement. Thus, the ties between Iran and China have been going on deeper and deeper undermining what the US detests a lot.

The new visit from the Iranian leader is being perceived as a projection to the USA that Iran could build a counterweight against it with China as the pivot.