Breaking News: On May 17, following a proposal by the Iranian President and approval by the Supreme Leader, Iran's Islamic Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, was appointed as Iran's Special Representative for China Affairs.

Ghalibaf is the top power figure among Iran's hardline-pragmatic faction following the assassination of Ali Larijani, and he has long served as Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States. His sudden appointment as Special Representative for China Affairs—“responsible for coordinating relevant affairs and cooperation among different Iranian government departments and China”—represents an extraordinary, non-conventional move.

Typically, Iran’s coordinator for China-related matters has been a Vice President or Foreign Minister. However, this time, the position is directly held by the head of the country’s legislative body—the Parliament Speaker—marking the highest-level special appointment in Iran’s history regarding China. The signal sent is both significant and rich in implications.

A clear indicator is that Iran has elevated Sino-Iranian relations to the maximum level, formally upgrading them from a purely “diplomatic” dimension to the strategic height of “national-level coordination.” Amid multiple ongoing crises, Tehran clearly aims to position its cooperation with China as a “critical cornerstone” for national development and security.

Ghalibaf’s complex background spanning military, political, and business spheres (having previously served as Commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Aerospace Force, Chief of Police, and Mayor of Tehran) makes him a uniquely capable “super-coordinator” capable of breaking down interdepartmental barriers.

Previously, although China and Iran signed a comprehensive 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021 outlining an investment blueprint worth up to $400 billion, actual implementation has progressed slowly due to internal fragmentation (“multiple authorities”), factional interests, and external sanctions risks. As of the end of 2024, actual investments amounted to only about $185 million. Ghalibaf’s appointment aims to leverage his immense political authority to directly coordinate resources across energy, diplomacy, economy, and other sectors, reduce bureaucratic infighting, and ensure that cooperative projects can finally be “approved and implemented” effectively.

Currently, U.S.-Iran negotiations have stalled, and Iran has recently suffered severe external military attacks, facing a massive post-conflict reconstruction funding gap (estimated losses around $270 billion) and intense economic sanctions pressure.

Ghalibaf himself is also a central figure in Iran’s talks with the U.S. (representing the hardline-pragmatic faction). Assigning him dual responsibility for engaging with China sends a strong signal: Iran seeks to deepen its strategic partnership with China as a key alternative when Western pathways are blocked, leveraging China’s infrastructure capabilities, vast market size, and influence in regional affairs to overcome diplomatic isolation and drive post-war economic recovery and reconstruction.

In summary, this move represents a high-stakes “ace card” played by Iran at a critical juncture of domestic and international challenges. It aims to ensure that practical Sino-Iranian cooperation accelerates through top-level institutional arrangements, enabling Iran to navigate the current complex global landscape.

Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1865442618759168/

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