Economist: Strengthening the cooperation between Iran, Russia and China is a nightmare for the West

“Vladimir Putin” and “Seyd Ebrahim Raisi”, the presidents of Russia and Iran, have several things in common, and both of them belong to a group of world leaders who have been personally targeted by American sanctions, both of them have traveled to China in recent years and They seem increasingly fond of each other. They met in the Kremlin in December to discuss the Gaza war. Raisi also quickly congratulated Putin on his “decisive” victory in the Russian presidential election.

The Economist magazine added with this introduction: “Although Iran, Russia and China competed with each other for control of trade routes in Asia in the past and did not have friendly relations with each other, Washington’s actions and policies have changed these relations. All three countries, united by a common enemy, now pledge to pursue a common foreign policy: support for a multipolar world no longer dominated by America. They consider all stronger economic ties as the basis of their new alliance”.

In this regard, all three countries are joining multilateral and international clubs such as BRICS. Bilateral trade between them is growing. There are also plans for tariff-free blocs, new payment systems and trade routes that bypass Western-controlled areas.

The Economist writes: “For America and its allies, this is a nightmare because a growing anti-Western axis could help adversaries evade sanctions, win wars and recruit other actors.”

President’s trip to Russia

This publication further pointed to the increase in China’s oil imports from Iran and Russia and by providing details about the volume of trade and import and export balances between “Iran and China” and “Russia and China” it wrote: “This alliance has so far achieved nothing.” significant achievement: saving its smaller members from collapsing against Western sanctions”.

The English media asked the question, “Has this alliance reached its full potential?” He wrote: “The answer depends on the ability of the coalition members to overcome external and internal obstacles.” The purpose of various gatherings is to promote cross-border cooperation and investment”.
Last July, Iran became the ninth member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; A security alliance led by China that also includes Russia. In December, it also signed a free trade agreement with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, which covers most of Central Asia. It also joined BRICS, a group of emerging markets that includes China and Russia, in January.

Economist writes: “Being in these groups gives all three countries more opportunities to talk. In recent meetings, Iranian and Russian ministers revived talks to expand the North-South International Transport Corridor, a 7,200-kilometer route that connects Russia to the Indian Ocean through Iran. Currently, Russian grain must travel to the West Asia through the NATO-controlled strait. This proposal, which includes a combination of roads, railways and ports, can turn Iran into an export outlet for Russia.

The visit of the President of China to Russia

According to this publication, the presence of Western sanctions against Iran and Russia and commercial competition between Tehran and Moscow, especially in the field of energy and competition between Tehran and Beijing in some fields, have also created restrictions for increasing trade between these three countries. /p>

The Economist, however, described “this anti-Western alliance” as “worrying” and wrote: “It is possible that this situation, perhaps in the second term of Donald Trump’s presidency, if he tries to exclude China from Western markets, be changed In this scenario, in order not to lose anything more, China will use much more resources to form an alternative bloc and will inevitably try to expand its alliances based on existing relationships.

Source: ISNA