Establishment of Chinese Sub-Consulate in Bandar Abbas; Amir Hossein Eetmadi: Prelude to ‘Prominent Chinese Military and Security Presence’ in Iran

The cabinet of Ibrahim Raisi’s government approved the opening of a sub-consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Bandar Abbas on Wednesday, December 8. According to an Iran analyst, this move will lead to China’s military and intelligence presence and harm Iran’s national security.

Amir Hossein Eetmadi, an Iran analyst and member of the Farsgard Network, told the Persian service of Voice of America that the establishment of a sub-consulate in Bandar Abbas is “a sign of a more prominent presence of Chinese nationals, particularly in southern Iran” and is based on “previous reports of the 25-year agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and China.” He stated: “This is a dangerous matter, and its least danger lies in trawl fishing, dredging of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, and damage to the livelihoods of Iranian fishermen and Iran’s marine ecosystem.”

Emphasizing that “its larger dimensions are military and intelligence presence,” he added: “China is a security, intelligence, and military government, and this presence in southern Iran could be a prelude to and opportunity for prominent Chinese military and security presence, which severely harms Iran’s national interests and national security. These are signs that we must increasingly consider the dangers of that 25-year agreement day by day.”

He further stated: “If it had not been confirmed even today in terms of unconfirmed reports and news, one could perhaps say that this Chinese action in establishing a sub-consulate is the first practical sign of the implementation of that shameful 25-year agreement between the Islamic Republic and China.”

According to this Farsgard Network member, the main reason for granting this privilege to China is that “the Islamic Republic is in a position of weakness.”

He clarified: “The Islamic Republic has practically isolated Iran in the world, and the cause of this isolation lies within the Islamic Republic itself due to behaviors related to terrorism, illegal nuclear activities, ballistic missiles, and the like, which has led it to reach out to countries like China and Russia; particularly China, which has a history of exploiting such issues elsewhere. That is, it takes advantage of countries that are practically isolated in order to gain maximum benefit contrary to the national interests of those countries and here, Iran’s national interests.”

This Iran analyst emphasized: “It appears that the Islamic Republic, considering that it is facing a severe economic and financial crisis, is granting these concessions to countries like China and Russia from a position of weakness.”

According to China’s Customs Administration announcement, the country formally halted imports of crude oil from Iran starting in 2021 due to American sanctions. However, Iranian oil is being sold to Chinese parties through Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.

Previously, the head of the Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce stated that bilateral trade between the two countries had declined, saying that in negotiations with Chinese parties, due to “sanctions,” we are “in a position of compulsion.”

Majid Reza Hariri, head of the Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce, told the ILNA News Agency in an interview published Wednesday, December 9, that Iran was “China’s first trade partner in the Middle East and Western Asia region” seven or eight years ago, but this ranking “is declining annually” and now “has fallen below five.”

He clarified: “All our foreign trade, including trade with China, has been affected by sanctions, and lifting sanctions is a new window for us.” He added: “When we are under sanctions, we are in a position of compulsion in negotiations with Chinese parties.”

Nevertheless, the Eghtesad Online website reported on December 7 that Alireza Moqaddasi, head of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Customs Administration, announced China as Iran’s first trade partner with exports amounting to “21 million and 300 thousand tons of goods worth 10 billion and 200 million dollars.”