What's for Tehran and Beijing in Iran-China Strategic Partnership?
Yusef Jalali
Press TV, Tehran
While Iran and China are hammering out a long-term strategic partnership, controversies about its details have become the talk of the town.
Iran's parliament now urges the government to disclose its terms.
In less than a week, lawmakers have summoned Iran's Foreign Minister twice to provide information about the pending deal.
Zarif said the government has nothing to hide from Iranians.
The government has not provided any specific details about the mechanism of the deal.
But what has so far made public is that the Iran-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will see Beijing invest around 400 billion dollars in Iran’s energy and infrastructure over a period of 25 years, in return for Tehran ensuring a stable supply of key energy products to China.
The pact will also cover security and military areas.
Information leaked by unofficial sources suggests that the deal will offer major discounts on Iran’s oil sales to China.
Some critics view the pact as a sellout of Iran to China.
While ruling out such claims, the government and its pros in parliament say China has always proved to be a good friend of Iran.
The Rouhani administration says Tehran and Beijing have so far finalized at least 75 percent of the terms of its draft version.
Once finalized, the text of the deal according to Iran’s constitution will be discussed in parliament to get its final approval.
The newly inaugurated parliament says the failure of the nuclear deal has taught Iran a lesson to be careful and not rush into any multinational accord without thorough knowledge about its terms.
While many view the Iran China pact as a substitute for the ailing nuclear deal, the government says it is not. It says even if deal by any chance, the nuclear found its way back on track, the Iran China partnership would not lose its function.
As the terms of the Iran China Strategic Partnership remain shrouded in mystery, critics call it another abyss for Iran's economy after the nuclear deal.
While the Rouhani administration calls the new deal a safe railway for Iran's economic train, MPs here say they don't buy the government's claims as long as the details of the deal are not disclosed to the public.
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