Global Geopolitical Series: Iran urges China to help secure JCPoA

As the European Union is working with Iran to salvage the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), better known as the Iran nuclear agreement, Iranian leadership reportedly sought the help of China to safeguard the nuclear agreement as re-imposition of U.S. sanctions looms ahead.

Speaking to South China Morning Post this week, Iran’s Ambassador to China Ali Asghar Khaji urged Beijing to play a positive role in upholding the agreement and to boost economic cooperation with Iran, “We expect other remaining members of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including China, to help implement and continue this deal, and fulfill their commitment and obligations according to this deal…….If we could gain these rights and benefits from this deal we will stay in it. If these Iranian rights were not satisfied, and our interests were not reached, we will think about other options”.

Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met his counterparts from China and Russia, as well as Britain, France, Germany and the European Union, in a bid to rescue the deal. Since all parties assured Iran of their will to continue with the agreement, Mr. Khaji said, “So with this positive atmosphere, we believe that, and we hope that, we can continue the JCPOA without the United States”.

Previously Iran has urged China to continue importing its oil by finding ways to bypass the U.S. sanctions once they are re-imposed later this year. Iran fears that U.S. sanctions might once again cripple its oil exports.