Typical overestimation of Iran’s value to China. You are not as vital to the Chinese as you think you are. China throws you an eaten chicken bone and you think you got the whole chicken. It’s just business at the end of the day, not some strategic partnership.
How’s that so called 25 year historic ‘strategic deal’ going by the way?
The vast majority of China’s oil comes from Russia (especially since Ukraine invasion and sanctions on Russia). So your theory holds zero water. Because if Russia becomes a “US democracy” then that would be a much greater threat to Chinese energy independence than Iran could ever dream to be. That’s not to say Iran doesn’t hold some usefulness in being a pain in the Empire’s side.
Russia-Saudi Arabia-Iraq supply the vast majority of oil to China. (note: Iranian oil is typically listed as “Malaysia” as that’s what Chinese put down for ship to ship transfers and illegal imports)
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