The China Document

In an unprecedented move in the history of international relations, Saudi Arabia signed a non-aggression agreement with Iran, with China serving as both witness and guarantor of the accord. Could there have been a more influential, more powerful, or more impartial guarantor?

The international community widely regarded the agreement as a masterstroke of diplomacy. After all, who would risk breaking a commitment made under China's watch?

Iran did.

Tehran waited for a time before violating the agreement, but it eventually resumed attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and perhaps even Egypt and elsewhere. In doing so, it appeared to disregard not only the pledge made before China but also the very notion of honoring international commitments. According to the logic governing the Islamic Republic, survival seems to depend on ensuring that both it and those around it continue to live on a perpetual state of tension.

Donald Trump reportedly expressed his frustration by remarking that what should require only minutes of negotiation ends up consuming seven days when dealing with the Iranians.

The Lebanese journalist Jihad Al-Zein recounted an anecdote in An-Nahar newspaper from a visit to Tehran. Captivated by a Persian carpet, he was initially quoted a price of $7,000. During his seven-day stay, he returned to the shop each day with a progressively lower offer. On the day of his departure, he presented the merchant with $1,500, took the carpet, and walked away. The original asking price had been $7,000.

The "China Document" is not the first instance in which established norms governing conflict have been disregarded. From the outset, Iran appeared to direct its hostility toward those who had chosen the path of peace and good-neighborly relations. Time and again, conciliatory initiatives and constructive gestures have been met with confrontation and uncompromising responses.

Gradually, diplomacy has given way to repeated tests of endurance and patience—particularly for President Trump. Iranian negotiators have demonstrated a remarkable ability to test his resolve before a global audience. Yet wars are not games, and geopolitical contests cannot be measured by tactical maneuvering alone.

Whatever Iran has endured so far may not amount to outright defeat, but it can hardly be described as victory.

Source: Asharq Al-Awsat.