Maggie Liu_IranMaggie Liu_Iran

Map Creator: Maggie Meiqi Liu ’19

After joining the Belt and Road Initiative in 2016, Iran has been the site of extensive Chinese investment. This map focuses on the projects that China is specifically involved in within the country, and thus explores the motivations behind the numerous infrastructure projects across Iran. As the second largest importer of Iranian oil, China not only sees Iran as an important source of energy but also as a crucial access point to the entire Western world. Building both international and domestic railways stimulates trade for the entire Central Asian region and offers support in the face of the United States’ trade sanctions. As US trade sanctions continue to restrict Iran’s economy, China’s role in connecting Iran to Central Asia and Europe grows ever the more important.