Iran-China Strategic Cooperation Agreement Needs Ratification of the Parliament for Effectiveness

Nouraei & M.Mostafavi Law Offices – 29 March 2021- The much discussed and criticized 25-year strategic cooperation agreement signed by China and Iran on Saturday 27 March 2021, is not a binding contract contrary to the uproar going on in the public arena and social media. Rather, it is an unbinding MOU/ Roadmap/ Program for future long-term cooperation between the two states in different areas of investment, commerce, trade etc. To become binding and legally effective, the arrangement needs to be approved and ratified by the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) in accordance with Articles 125 and 153 of the Iran Constitution in order to be handled as mandatory law The said articles stipulate that:

Article 125: All the treaties, transactions, agreements, and contracts between the government of Iran and other governments as well as all the pacts related to the international unions, after they are approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, must be signed by the President of the Republic or his legal representative.

Article 153: Any form of agreement that would result in foreign domination over the natural and economic resources, foreign domination over culture, the army, and other affairs of the country, is forbidden.

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