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Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-china-iran15-2009oct16,0,757825.story
China's Links to Iran a Snag for Sanctions
[Los Angeles Times] David Pierson - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday that China was committed to deepening its ties with Iran, a declaration that underscores the difficulty the U.S. will face in seeking broad economic sanctions against Tehran in an effort to rein in its nuclear program. Wen spoke at a meeting in Beijing with visiting Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi. Undercutting hopes that China would take a tough stance on Iran now are the ever-growing economic ties between the two countries. More than 100 Chinese state firms operate in Iran, largely helping with infrastructure projects. In the face of the sanctions already in place, two-way trade between China and Iran grew 35% last year, to $27 billion. More important, China has signed an estimated $120 billion worth of oil deals with Iran in the last five years.