Open QuestionsHow will the Iran turmoil affect China and its Middle East ties? Pan Guang weighs in

Professor Pan Guang has spent decades focused on Jewish studies, the Middle East and its ties with China. Among his many roles, Pan is founding director of a research centre on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

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Amid recent events in Iran, how do you assess the impact on China? Will China’s “petroyuan” settlement encounter problems, and what of the risks to the Belt and Road Initiative’s infrastructure assets?

Overall, the strikes on Iran do have some impact on China, but the impact is limited. There will be no changes regarding oil trade settlement in yuan. On the contrary, it could be increasingly favourable to China. There is little the US can do about this. Countries need to spend money to buy goods, and there is no way to prevent that.

As for belt and road risks, the greater concern lies with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan and Afghanistan are in serious conflict, and that is what worries me most. As for Iran, once the fighting ends, it ends; there will not be much impact. The US will not occupy Iran.