ABSTRACT
Re-iterating that China regards sanctions as a violation of the principle of non-interference and an infringement of Iran's sovereignty, Chinese decision-makers made it clear that attempts to punish Iran for its lack of cooperation and transparency over its nuclear programme ran against China's understanding of an ideational framework that should govern international politics as soon as Iran's nuclear case was referred to the UNSC in 2006. Nothing captures this normative divergence more clearly than China's recurrence to its 'Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence' as guiding principles of foreign policy, which represent an explicitly anti-hegemonic posture when read against China 'four no's' in public diplomacy. The chapter discusses Chinese Iran diplomacy between triangulation and resistance. Lastly, the chapter also analyses material factors that influence China's Iran policy. These are particularly relevant in the context of China's energy needs. Uncertainties linger, however, concerning the continued application of US unilateral financial sanctions, and the future implementation of the JCPOA.
