On the sidelines of the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan, the defense ministers of China and Iran have forged closer ties.
Brigadier General Mohammed-Reza Astiani of Iran emphasised the necessity of enhanced cooperation to address regional and global security challenges following discussions with China’s Admiral Dong Jun in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Iran, facing international isolation due to its nuclear activities and support for non-state militant groups in the Middle East, has sought to bolster its alliances with countries like Russia and China. Tehran’s efforts to broaden its partnerships saw it joining the SCO in July 2023 and, earlier this year, becoming a member of the BRICS organisation, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
China has emerged as a key ally for Iran, serving as its primary purchaser of oil and a significant economic partner. The two nations cemented their relationship with a 25-year cooperation agreement signed in 2021.
