China is strengthening scientific cooperation with Iran and extending it to rare earths, strategic raw materials crucial for the technology industry and military systems production. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), according to the South China Morning Post, has included the 'exploration and processing of rare earth elements' among the five sectors of the new workshop program with the Iranian scientific foundation. Beijing will fund each meeting with about 30,000 yuan, while Tehran will cover part of the travel and hospitality expenses for researchers.
The initiative is particularly significant in the context of rising geopolitical tensions and competition between China and the United States. Rare earths, a group of 17 metals with unique magnetic and electronic properties, are essential for missiles, fighter jets, radars, electronic devices, and numerous advanced technologies. China is the world's leading producer and processor of rare earths and has tightened controls on the export of the technologies needed for their processing in recent years. Iran, on the other hand, has untapped potential: geological anomalies suggesting possible deposits have been identified in an area of about 7,000 square kilometers in the center of the country, but Iran's extraction and processing capabilities remain at an early stage.
Scientific collaboration between Beijing and Tehran dates back to 2017 and already includes projects in sectors such as medicine, renewable energy, advanced materials, climate change, and artificial intelligence. However, the inclusion of rare earths in the 2026 program marks a particularly significant step, just as Washington seeks to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains for strategic raw materials.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved