News analysis

Iran's purported US$400 billion 'secret deal' with China needs to be viewed in context: Experts

Analysts say the deal is essentially the fleshing out of a prior agreement from 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
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BEIJING - Against a backdrop of worsening bilateral relations with the United States, news emerged earlier this month of a purported secret deal between China and Iran that would offer some US$400 billion (S$555 billion) of Chinese investments in the Islamic Republic over 25 years.

While it sparked concerns that the deal could re-calibrate geopolitics and pose a potential strategic challenge to the US, analysts say this is essentially the fleshing out of a prior agreement from 2016, and needs to should be viewed as Teheran floating a trial balloon.

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