Iran-China 25-year Cooperation Program

For China, both the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the 25-year program with Iran are part of the One Belt-One Road Initiative, so it is likely that in the near future Iran's request for permanent membership will be repeated and will be accepted by all its members.[15]

Iran has a similar project partnership with India and Russia called International North–South Transport Corridor.[21] There are also prospective developments in including Pakistan. Both Iran and Pakistan have had friendly relations with China in the past. The Belt and Road Initiative's benefits have the potential to outweigh the political and religious differences.[22] Freer trade between Iran and Pakistan due to railways and ports could open up potential development in both countries. There would also be a stronger, unified front to pressure Afghanistan to follow suit.[22] This potential agreement would also relieve India's pressure on Pakistan and China.[22]

A member of Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly said in June 2020 that in the draft document "cooperation in the development of cyberspace" has been listed and noted that using National Information Network offensive sites and databases can be filtered.[23][24]

According to The Economist, the investment comes with a discount on oil purchases, prioritizing China in implementing development projects and allowing 5,000 Chinese (foreign) security forces to be present on Iranian soil.[25] There is also talk of deepening military cooperation according the New York Times. The draft includes joint military exercises and training, research and weapons development, and intelligence sharing.[5] The reason being to stop terrorism, trafficking in persons and drugs, and cross-border crimes. Those reports were categorically denied by Iranian authorities on numerous occasions.

China's long term policy on non-political intervention has served it well in the pursuit of economic development. China has become economically involved with many nations in the middle east and the BRI will likely include many of those already involved with China. Making such a deal with Iran is a contentious move and the effects are unclear. The times article describes the move as conflicting with other regional players interests, primarily Saudi Arabia.[5] Time however, explains that it is no different than any of the other economic deals within the BRI that include other nations like other Gulf states and Egypt.[4] Chinas increasing support for nations that are in conflict with one another may begin to work against it, like its support of Palestine and Israel.[26] Though this may pale in comparison to the economic progress made through the BRI for the Middle East as a whole. Declining relations with the west and China's hands off policy in domestic matters of trade partners, makes China an appealing candidate for economic future of many states in the Middle East.[26] The deal with Iran may be the model under which other nations begin to follow.

Despite the escalations in tensions between the US, Iran and China, due to President Trump's administration, the Cooperation Plan is not in response to US actions. The deal had been in development since 2016, before the Trump administration left the Iran deal and prior to the changes in Chinese-U.S. trade relations.[4] However, the U.S. has had a hand in pushing the two nations together in the past. Its policies in the past have inadvertently pressured the two to work together due to nuclear nonproliferation and economic sanctions. China often extending an economic lifeline to Iran due to U.S. sanctions.[27] Saied Khatibzadeh, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry denies that progress in the deal has been delayed till after the US 2020 election.[28] As of October 19, 2020 the US has sanctioned six entities and two individuals for their activities involved with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).[29]

Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the deal and said: "I have heard government is in negotiations with a foreign country for a deal and no one knows, without telling people giving away peoples national wealth...."[30]

Ali Motahari said there must be a solution for issue of Xinjiang concentration camps regardless of accords for deal with China.[31]

Reza Pahlavi, the heir of the former Imperial State of Iran, criticized the Iranian government and the program and called it betrayal of Iran's national interests.[32]