Why China is set to support Iran at the Osaka G20 summit – but subtly

Tehran and Beijing both face pressures from Washington, but China is expected to avoid further inflaming US relations

China is among the countries set to discuss saving the Iran nuclear deal abandoned by Donald Trump

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The US last year reintroduced sanctions on Iran, and on countries buying oil from Iran. Photo: Reuters

Published: 5:18pm, 25 Jun 2019Updated: 9:37am, 26 Jun 2019

China has given strong political backing to Iran in its recent conflicts with the United States, but diplomatic observers say Beijing should be wary of provoking a direct confrontation with the US that could jeopardise China’s strategic influence in the Middle East.

Tensions between the US and Iran have been escalating, with US President Donald Trump imposing new sanctions on Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and eight senior military commanders on Monday – a move Iran said had brought about the “permanent closure” of diplomacy.

As one of Iran’s main allies, China has long promised political and economic support for Tehran regardless of Washington’s changing Iran policy over recent decades.

Beijing last week warned against opening a “Pandora’s box” after Trump approved military strikes on Iran before aborting the attacks.

Diplomatic observers said the US had paved the way for strategic cooperation between China and Iran, given that both remain under threat from Washington.

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