China's energy insecurity and Iran's crisis by Kaveh L Afrasiabi

Nonetheless, the United States' drive to deprive Iran of nuclear-weapons potential is not easily reversible and, henceforth, China's policymakers must include in their calculations the worst-case scenario imperiling their energy ties to Iran (at least for a while).

Since China has scanty strategic oil reserves of about 30 days, the "nightmare scenario" itself is a powerful motivating force for China to play crisis-prevention, and yet, since it has limited influence on Iran and the other players in this dangerous crisis, it must also consider the option of sacrificing some of its shared interests with the US for the sake of safeguarding its cherished energy stakes in the Middle East.