Train that arrived in Iran using the new railway represents not only an alternative route for Iran but also an opportunity for China to expand its influence.
Facing sanctions from the West periodically and coming at odds on a political level due to equipment support to Russia in the Russo-Ukrainian War, Iran seems to have found a new route in the form of China with the new railway that goes through a route without potential observation from the U.S.
The route passing through Turkic states is out of reach for a sustainable surveillance/intervention operation from NATO task forces due to not only being entirely land-based but also being in a region where no NATO members/allies are present.
This is an assurance for Iran, on whom the sanctions might lose effectiveness due to goods being sent by China. However, Iran is not the only one to have a considerable gain out of this cooperation.
(Credit Press TV/ Iran)
Route of Goods for Iran, Route of Influence for China
Considering which countries the route goes through and where it ends, it will serve as a way for China to increase its influence towards both Central Asia and the eastern parts of the Middle East.
Turkic countries along the route will also benefit from the tariffs and extra options for trade, which will likely put military forward observation plans to prevent supplies of goods to Iran in an undesirable position.
Other than expanding the sphere of influence, the railway might also become a step for China to boost its trade ties with Europe. Europe and China being at odds with the Trump Administration in economic terms might be a catalyst for deeper trade between China and EU members coupled with a land-based station that is closer to Europe.
The new railway will shorten the delivery time twice as it will take half less time compared to the maritime route via the Malacca Strait chokepoint.
The Malacca Strait’s geography is the first step of problems to overcome but not the last one. The long and narrow strait limits China’s crude oil imports from West Asia and Africa. On the other hand, the Red Sea, which became a battle zone between Yemeni resistance forces and Saudi forces, obliges trade routes to bypass the Suez Shortcut.
According to Iranian Press TV, railway officials from Iran, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Turkiye met in Tehran to advance this rail network linking Asia to Europe.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
