Zarif throws full weight behind contentious Iran-China deal
Iran’s foreign minister went to lengths to reject criticism and justify a long-term deal with China, which many Iranians fear is a package of concessions.
Iran’s top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, dismissed criticism against a 25-year partnership agreement that the Islamic Republic signed with the Chinese government in Tehran on March 27. Addressing a packed Clubhouse meeting, Zarif said the deal with China was merely a nonbinding road map toward a setup for future bilateral ties.
Iranian officials have been applying multiple titles in reference to the signed document, details of which remain undisclosed to the Iranian public. The secrecy has only fueled concerns and triggered unending speculation that the Iranian government is offering too much in exchange for too little.
“The document imposes no obligation on either side,” Zarif stressed in a separate post on his Instagram page. He also addressed deep concerns that under the deal, Iran will cede some form of control of some of its southern regions, including the touristic and energy-rich island of Kish. “There is no area or even a single spot to be handed over to the [Chinese side],” he declared.
Unconfirmed details of the draft document were leaked last year, sparking furious reactions from many Iranians and catching officials off guard as to how to bring the public on board. Last year’s draft offered little beyond a series of general agenda points. And days after the formal signing ceremony in Tehran, the Iranian top diplomat’s speech fed the public mind with no new content.
