Iran’s parliamentary speaker has called for concrete steps to bring Tehran’s strategic partnership with Beijing from promises into practice, stressing that both nations must accelerate efforts to expand cooperation.
Speaking during a meeting with Chinese officials, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the longstanding friendship between Iran and China should translate into measurable economic and political achievements. “The agreements signed between our countries must not remain on paper,” he declared. “They must be implemented in ways that benefit both our peoples.”
Iran and China signed a 25-year cooperation pact in 2021, covering sectors ranging from energy and infrastructure to trade and security. While the agreement was hailed at the time as a landmark, progress has been slower than anticipated, partly due to international sanctions on Iran and shifting global economic conditions.
Ghalibaf stressed that the two countries share common interests in resisting what he described as “Western pressure” and building a multipolar world order. He highlighted areas such as oil and gas exports, transport corridors linking Asia and the Middle East, and technology exchange as priorities for immediate action.
Chinese officials reaffirmed their country’s commitment to the partnership, noting that Beijing views Iran as an important regional partner under its Belt and Road Initiative. “We support stronger ties with Iran and will continue to deepen our cooperation,” a Chinese delegate said.
Analysts say Iran is keen to demonstrate that its foreign policy pivot toward Asia can deliver tangible results, especially as talks over reviving the nuclear deal with world powers remain stalled. Closer cooperation with China, Tehran hopes, could ease some of the economic pressures caused by US-led sanctions.
However, experts also caution that Beijing is likely to balance its relations carefully, ensuring that deeper engagement with Iran does not jeopardise its broader interests in the Gulf region.
Still, the message from Tehran was clear: Iran expects its partnership with China to move beyond declarations. As Ghalibaf put it, “The time for words is over. Now is the time for action.