China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterpart from Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif, sign a declaration of cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran on March 27, 20201. (Photo: Fars News Agency)
Editor’s note: On Saturday China and Iran announced a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement where Beijing said it could invest up to $400 billion in Iran, expanding its economic and military influence, although the agreement is not a binding deal and did not specify financial commitments. We are republishing the following article that was originally written last year in October when early details of the draft of the agreement were leaked.