China move from Iran: New instructions from Khamenei in foreign policy

Iranian Parliament Speaker and Special Representative for Chinese Affairs Mohammed Baqir Qalibaf, in his statement on his Telegram page, gave information about the written instruction sent to him by Khamenei regarding relations with China.

Sharing the details of the road map determined by Khamenei for relations with China, Kalibaf noted that the Special Representative for Chinese Affairs will operate within a board with the authority to supervise the implementation of strategic direction and work.

Kalibaf stated that China can play an important role in ending the war and overcoming the ongoing "neither war nor peace" situation in the region.

Kalibaf stated that China's relations with Iran and the Arab countries in the region, as well as the Chinese President's approach based on 4 suggestions, offer an opportunity to establish a new order and ensure stability in the region, and emphasized that the positive role that the Beijing administration can assume in this process should be taken advantage of.

Pointing out that the cooperation between Iran and China should not be limited to symbolic agreements, Kalibaf pointed out the importance of implementing the 25-year comprehensive cooperation program signed between the two countries with concrete projects.

Kalibaf stated that in relations with China, inter-institutional coordination and joint follow-up mechanism should be strengthened instead of carrying out many independent contacts.

Kalibaf said that the duty of the special representative is not to intervene in the jurisdictions of the relevant institutions, and noted that this duty aims to determine priorities, accelerate decision-making processes and ensure the follow-up of issues requiring inter-institutional coordination.

Relations between Iran and China hold an important place in Iranian foreign policy due to the political and economic tensions Tehran experiences with Western countries.

The two countries aimed to improve their relations in various fields, especially energy, infrastructure, trade and transportation, with the 25-year comprehensive cooperation program they signed in 2021.

China, one of the important buyers of Iranian oil, also plays a role in diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East.

The Beijing administration hosted the agreement to re-establish diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March 2023.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf was appointed as the Special Representative for Chinese Affairs, replacing former Supreme National Security Council Secretary General Ali Larijani, who died in Israel's air strike on March 17, 2026.