Due to its contracting nature, the Iranian regime has never had the opportunity for even the slightest economic development and growth in Iran.
Since the start of its reign, besides its foreign policy of the “export of revolution” (warmongering and terrorism), the regime has auctioned the country’s wealth and national resources to survive the international isolation and economic competition. This was the only solution they had to create a political and power balance with the world powers.
In the interim, the regime has been wholly set on eliminating and demonizing its main enemy and rival, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council Resistance of Iran (NRCI), which added to the reasons for the regime to auction the country’s wealth.
It has not only been the West who have been benefiting from the regime’s destructive economic policies. The world of diplomacy was not restricted to them. To neutralize the sanctions and international isolation, which are a result of its behavior over the past four decades, and to gain votes in international meetings, the regime looked eastwards towards the powerful countries in Asia.
From the second tenure of the regime’s previous president Hassan Rouhani and the withdrawal of former US President Donald Trump’s administration from the JCPOA, the regime’s despaired supreme leader Ali Khamenei chose to increase their economic and political relations with East under the name ‘Looking East’, turning to ‘traditional partners such as China, India, and Russia’.
At least three major treaties, like the disastrous and infamous Turkmenchay, were implemented after Khamenei’s decision to start broader cooperation with the East. All of them were recorded by the state media.
The first was the endowment of the Caspian Sea to Russia in the summer of 2018, when the regime’s media announced that Iran’s share of the Caspian Sea had fallen from 50% to 11%. At that time, regime MP Mahmoud Sadeghi called it ‘another Turkmenchay’.
The second one was the transfer of Chabahar port to an Indian company in the winter of 2018. Some of the regime’s officials, such as MP Nader Ghazipur, considered it a shameful contract akin to the Golestan and Turkmanchay treaties.
The third one was the 25-year contract with China in 2020 with the agreement to hand over Kish Island to this government, with some officials once again referencing the Turkmenchay treaty.
These decisions were so disastrous that the regime was forced to find a religious excuse to justify its behavior. Lotfollah Dezhkam, the Friday prayer leader of Shiraz, spoke on July 17, 2020, saying, “The infidels are of two groups, some of them are at war with the Muslims and some of them did not fight the Muslims and did not kill the Muslims and did not drive them out of their homes. God has emphasized that you should not be friends with the infidels who have come to fight you Muslims, but you can have a just relationship with those who have not fought with you.”
These days, the recent protests across Iran have changed the situation against the regime significantly. This has been realized because of the Iranian people’s bravery, sacrifice, and the blood they have shed for freedom. In addition to its internal effects, the protests have forced many countries to take a stance against the regime and reconsider their political and economic relations.
Even China, which the regime considered one of its main international partners, has suddenly changed its path and has turned its back on the regime.
On December 19, the state-run Mardom Salari daily discussed China’s decision, explaining that the country is, “pulling towards risk-free actors and avoiding tense actors,” by deciding to leave the regime behind and prioritize stable Gulf States, such as Saudi Arabia. On the same day, the state-run Arman Meli daily claimed, “China has betrayed Iran.”
On December 9, China and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement, and China, by clearly distancing itself from the regime and other Arab countries, called for non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and respect for the principles of good neighborliness. Following this meeting, many economic agreements were also signed by the parties, which was a further heavy blow to the regime.
The state-run Sharq daily expressed its fear and frustration on December 18, writing, “The agreement between China and the Arabs is a historical turning point that transforms the geopolitical situation of the region. In fact, a new coalition has been formed against Iran, which this time, of course, can be more violent and reckless.”
The daily then warned regime officials to have caution in their relations with Russia, adding, “Where is the insurance that the scenario of China and the Arabs will be repeated by Russia?”
The whole world has now come to understand that the regime has finally reached a dead end and now is the time to reconsider their relations with it. The Chinese authorities have realised that Iran is no longer a suitable place for investment under the rule of the mullahs and their regime.
With every day that passes, the isolation of the regime increases, and going forward there will be fewer countries willing to cooperate and sign economic and investment contracts with it.
