China-Iran Relations and Regional Geopolitics in the Context of CPEC

China-Iran relations have taken on new strategic dimensions in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In this paper, I investigate why the CPEC deepens political and security ties between China and Iran, particularly in response to external pressures from powers like the United States and India. I focus on this central question by exploring how the CPEC – which was initially conceived as an economic venture between China and Pakistan – plays a role in reshaping regional geopolitics. Through a historical and geopolitical lens, I examine the mutual interests that drive this deepening partnership, including shared concerns over regional security, the desire to counterbalance U.S. influence, and the strategic need to secure energy routes and infrastructure. I analyze these issues in light of the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and China-Iran 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021. Through this focused exploration, I aim to shed light on the evolving nature of China-Iran relations and their implications for existing power dynamics in the region.