The Position of Iran in China's Foreign Policy in the Light of its Middle East Policy

Extended Abstract     
Introduction
The Middle East has long been an important region in China's foreign policy. In ancient times, China's main interactions with the Middle East were around the ancient Silk Road. In the modern era, with the coming to power of the Communist Party in China, this country took a different course. This means that during the period of Mao's rule, China's relations with the Middle East region had an ideological nature, the objective manifestation of which was the support of liberation movements in the region. But with the beginning of reforms in China since Xiaoping era and the continuation of that policy by succeeders, China abandoned the previous policy and tried to turn the Middle East into one of the important areas in its foreign policy by relying on trade and economy.
In fact, due to the wealth of the Persian Gulf countries, China pays more attention to the Persian Gulf region.The expansion of relations between China and the Arabs of the southern Persian Gulf is an obvious fact, especially in the framework of the One Belt and One Road and Digital Silk Road projects. Along with this business project, "the Digital Silk Road plan" is also on China's agenda. In the framework of this plan, China has played a central role in the implementation of the most important digital projects in the region, such as "Smart Dubai 2012" and "Saudi Arabia National Transition Program 2030".  Also, China has so far approved the strategic partnership document with the members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (except Bahrain), Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Djibouti and Morocco. Chinese companies have made strategic investments throughout the Middle East region. According to the prediction of the International Energy Agency, China's need for energy will increase by 56% by 2040; Such a fact will mean an increase in China's appetite for investment and greater presence in the region. In addition to trade and capital flows, visits by Chinese officials to the region have increased dramatically. President Xi Jinping has visited the region 14 times since coming to power. it is clear that China has established extensive interactions with the Middle East region and has achieved remarkable successes. It should be accepted that China's success in the Middle East region was based on a policy that should be called "China's Middle East policy". It is necessary to understand this policy since, despite America's sensitivities to China's foreign interactions, especially with its allies in the Middle East, Beijing has managed to gain significant influence in the region. Now, the basic question here is that what are the principles and foundations of China's Middle East policy and how can the policy of China's relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran be explained within that framework?.
Methodology
The hypothesis of this research is that China's Middle East policy is based on pragmatic principles and principles of balanced development of relations with all countries, far from provoking the sensitivities of the United States. Based on this policy, Beijing's relations with Tehran are also a function of this country's Middle Eastern policy, which does not have attributes and characteristics such as strategicness or unity. Theis paper examines this hypothesis with a descriptive-analytical method.
Results and Discussion
China in the Middle East follows a policy or macro strategy, the basics of which are:

China's interactions with the Middle East region help the economic growth of this country
Because China needs regional oil and there is serious competition between regional governments, it is better for China to have equal relations with all important regional governments.
China does not seek confrontation with the United States in the Middle East and uses the security created by the United States in this region.
Economy is the most important aspect of China's cooperation with regional countries. Economic statistics prove this claim.
Although China has a desire to intervene in the political and security issues of the region, this desire is small.
China's policy on Iran is consistent with China's policy on the Middle East:
Economy is the most important defining factor in China's relations with Iran, which includes energy, bilateral trade, and the Belt and Road Initiative.
China helped to modernize Iran's military industry and in some cases has also sold weapons to Iran. China has also done this in the case of Saudi Arabia.
Although China has common interests with Iran and defends Tehran's positions, this does not mean that China seeks to challenge America.

Conclusions
The role of China's macro policies in the Middle East region has a serious effect on the interaction of this country with the Islamic Republic of Iran. This issue has largely caused China to expand its relations with Tehran despite the restrictions, but at the same time, it has not acted completely in line with Tehran's demands. This means that in interacting with Tehran, China always takes into account the considerations of other important actors and regional rivals of Tehran. Until the foreseeable future, when China's grand strategy in the international system and the Middle East region does not change seriously, we cannot expect a serious change in the relations between this country and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This means that according to the current situation in the international system, China has established a policy in the Middle East in which, although Tehran is considered as an agent to pressure the West, when it is necessary, but it will not be a strategic ally for Iran.