The Iranian spokesperson has once again referenced China. On the evening of October 20, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai addressed Sino-Russian relations, stating: “Our cooperation with Russia and China is built upon shared interests. We are not naive; we recognize that every nation pursues its own national interests. At the same time, we have clearly identified common ground with both Russia and China. Regardless of external rhetoric, as long as circumstances permit, we remain determined to advance our bilateral ties.”
Baghai’s remarks appear aimed at countering external scrutiny—particularly from the United States—regarding the evolving dynamics among Iran, China, and Russia. The statement underscores that Iran’s collaboration with Beijing and Moscow is grounded in its own assessment of mutual interests, and is resilient to third-party commentary. This context emerged amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier assertion that neither Russia nor China would genuinely assist Iran. When questioned about this during a press briefing, Baghai responded with a tone laced with irony, noting, “Sometimes we must allow them [U.S. officials] to remain in their own illusions.”
While the statement may read like standard diplomatic language, it conveys a deliberate strategic signal to multiple audiences—Iran itself, its partners in Beijing and Moscow, and Washington. “We are not naive”: Iran acknowledges that China and Russia act in accordance with their own national interests, and will not sacrifice themselves for Tehran or bear risks on Iran’s behalf unconditionally. “Yet the common interests are substantial”: so long as key areas such as opposition to unipolarity, energy coordination, nuclear cooperation, and multilateral engagement within the UN framework remain intact, Iran sees no incentive to fracture its relationships under Western pressure.
Evidently, Iran’s approach to cooperation with China and Russia reflects a clear-eyed and pragmatic posture. It does not expect either partner to engage in military confrontation on its behalf, but equally refuses to abandon strategic ties out of fear. The position avoids both romantic idealism—the expectation that China and Russia would shoulder all burdens without reciprocity—and opportunistic calculation—cutting ties with Beijing and Moscow to appease the West. Thus, Iran’s “non-naivety” is strategically sound. The trilateral relationship is not an alliance, but a pressure-driven coordination mechanism: the greater the external pressure, the tighter the alignment; any shift in the structural pressure will inevitably lead to recalibration of cooperation intensity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879615752223811/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.