Iran-China trade ...
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“Iran is also a major market for Chinese goods, continuing large imports of industrial, electronic and mechanical products.”
Opportunities and potential
The chamber member said that energy and natural resources are among the main areas for future cooperation. As one of the world’s largest holders of oil and gas reserves, Iran can be “a stable source” of energy exports for China, the world’s biggest energy consumer.
Iran’s geostrategic location as a crossroads between East and West also positions it as a key link in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, he added.
According to the businessman, investment in railways, ports and transit routes could turn Iran into a regional transport hub for Chinese trade.
“China, already Iran’s largest trade partner, could further increase imports of Iranian industrial, mineral, agricultural and food products, while investing in sectors such as steel, mining, automobiles, telecommunications and renewables.”
The two countries could also expand cooperation in technology and industry, he said, adding, “Iran needs China’s technology and industrial machinery, while in return Iran can be a large market for Chinese technology products and services.”
“Financial cooperation could include using local currencies — the rial and yuan — or alternative payment systems to bypass Western sanctions, as well as creating joint investment funds.”
Obstacles and constraints
Nikpey Salekdeh said that the US and Western sanctions remain a major barrier, with Chinese banks and companies cautious about engaging in large-scale deals with Iran. Weak investment protection laws, frequent regulatory changes and bureaucratic hurdles inside Iran have also discouraged Chinese investors, he added.
The merchant believes that political and economic instability, currency fluctuations, and lack of clear legal guarantees raise risks for Chinese businesses.
“Meanwhile, Beijing has expanded cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, which could divert opportunities if Iran does not sharpen its competitive advantages.”
According to him, the absence of a direct land border between Iran and China adds another obstacle.
Nikpey Salekdeh said that current overland routes pass through intermediaries such as Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan, Afghanistan-Pakistan, or Central Asia, raising transport costs and exposing trade to security risks and tariff barriers.
“Security issues plague key routes like Afghanistan-Pakistan, while transit nations in Central Asia impose customs hurdles and tariffs. This reality means Iran's ability to serve as a transit corridor to China hinges on the cooperation of neighboring states.”
“To overcome transit and transportation bottlenecks, Iran must prioritize developing critical international corridors. This includes activating the Iran-Kazakhstan-China corridor via Caspian Sea shipping routes and railways, boosting the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) while extending its connectivity to China through Russia, and utilizing east-west routes such as the corridor via Pakistan,” he added.
The chamber member said that joint Iran-China investment in transit infrastructure offers another pathway.
He said that the two nations could cooperate on expanding rail networks, including the key Khaf-Herat line linking to Central Asia and China. Establishing shared port facilities at locations like Chabahar or Bandar Abbas to enhance maritime links with China is also under consideration."
Problems facing Iranian traders
Nikpey Salekdeh noted, “Iranian traders often face long and complicated procedures to obtain visas for China.” Direct flights are also limited, he said.
The joint chamber member said both governments could sign a bilateral agreement to ease business visas, including three-to-five-year permits for qualified traders, or launch e-visa and on-arrival systems. He suggested that more direct passenger and cargo flights between Tehran and Beijing or Shanghai would also reduce costs and speed up delivery of sensitive goods.