Iran and China - Looking for an Alliance and Regional Power Status

It is widely held that the 21st century will be china's century on the globalstage, while iran, in the beginning of the 21st century, is becoming a regional power in the middle east even if the limits to its power can bequestioned. both countries stand practically alone, without allies in a worldthat looks upon their expansion unfavourably, if not with outright hostility.the 21st century, however, will not be the period of gaining influence by military means, even if the use of military force cannot be excluded. one ofthe main characteristics of both the chinese and the iranian expansions iseconomic expansion. chinese presence is booming in the middle east. iran has developed a significant economic activity in western afghanistan, thenin iraq. both countries look back on ancient civilisations, to which theyfrequently refer to and which contributes to their perceptions of the surrounding world. china has traditionally perceived itself as the centre ofthe universe. iran, by the right of its islamic revolution of 1979, wishes to bethe leading power of the islamic world. ayatollah khomeini was speakingof islam, in spite of the fact that the islamic government put forward byhim is rooted in shiite islam. this leading role seems to return under thepresidency of ahmadinejad – even if in a new form. 11 september 2001 hascreated the moving space for iran in which it can become a regional power.