China’s Policy on Iran Nuclear Issue: The Balance Between National Interest and “Responsible Great Power”

Abstract The importance of China’s policy toward Iran’s Nuclear Program has gradually increased because of China’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the increase of interest areas in the Middle East, and being one of the biggest challenging countries to the global position of the US. Besides, an active diplomacy of China in the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (JCPOA), the increase in interest areas in the international system, and rise of its political position shows that China pursues a more active diplomacy. While China defends the nuclear program of Iran for the use of civilian purposes, it also prioritizes the regime of the continuation of nuclear weapons. China also aims to improve its mutual relationship with Iran, which is subject to international sanctions, in the field of energy and economy. On the other hand, it not only aims to protect the image of “responsible great power”, but also continue its positive relationship with the US. After unilaterally the withdrawal of the USA from the JCPOA, China’s policy toward Iran’s nuclear program based on the balance between national interests and the image of “responsible great power” has gained much more importance. In this paper, I analyze the impact of the parameters of China’s changing position in international system, the relationship between China and the US, national interests at the level of local /global and the image of “responsible great power” on China’s policy toward Iran’s nuclear program. This article argues that China’s policy toward Iran’s nuclear program is determined by the balance between national interests and the image of “responsible great power” of the rising actor. China’s relationship with Iran remains limited because China prioritizes the relationship with the US, and aims to protect the image of “responsible great power”