The source of Iran’s relative independence in international affairs can be attributed to its oil and gas wealth. The country’s massive oil resources have contributed to a steady source of income which has fueled Tehran’s foreign policy. The election of President Trump in 2016 was the beginning of the biggest crisis in Iran since the war with neighboring Iraq in the 1980s. Chinese support is proving to be crucial as its buyers are stocking up on oil. The recent import volumes are so massive that certain Chinese ports are clogged up with ships carrying oil from Iran. The Sino-Iranian oil connection Ever since Deng Xiaoping’s market liberalization policies and, consequentially, massive economic expansion, China’s oil industry hasn’t been able to keep up with demand. Therefore, Middle Eastern imports are crucial for the Asian giant’s economy. Iran’s oil industry has been operating under sanctions for decades. The JCPOA, or the […]