The Chinese flag was projected on Tehran’s Azadi Square on the night of January 31 to mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the Islamic Republic and China, prompting widespread condemnation from Iranians on social media.
Responding to complaints, Tehran officials said on February 1 they had not been aware of the illumination or the accompanying event.
According to the Tehran Municipality Beautification Organization, the idea for the flag to be displayed in the capital’s most famous square was suggested and then implemented by the Roudaki Foundation and the Iran-China Friendship Association in cooperation with the Chinese Embassy. The Beautification Organization played no role in "creating the content or the timing of the event,” it said.
Chinese music played through loudspeakers during the projection, and a message reading "Signing of the memorandum of cooperation between Iran and China shows the depth of relations between the two countries. Congratulations on Chinese New Year” appeared in both Persian and Chinese.
The Chinese Ambassador to Tehran, Chang Hua, and Alaeddin Boroujerdi, president of the Iran-China Friendship Association, both delivered speeches at the foot of the tower on Azadi Square, and the Chinese ambassador announced the launch of the 25-year agreement of cooperation between the two countries.
"The comprehensive cooperation program will move forward with double efforts, more powerful and better,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted in Chinese, alongside a photograph of the flag displayed in Azadi Square.
Chang Hua, China's ambassador to Tehran, re-tweeted Amir-Abdollahian, adding: “Thanks to His Excellency" and "Friendship Forever."
Iranians were outspoken on social media, especially on Twitter. They highlighted the timing of the event and criticized the announcement of the new plan. Many said they believed the event symbolized Iran’s deference to China, and some said it amounted to Iran becoming a Chinese colony.
The 25-year cooperation agreement between the two countries was actually signed in April 2021, by order of the Supreme Leader. At the time, the agreement some dubbed the "Sale of Iran to China" was widely criticized in Iran and beyond.
Iranian government officials announced on January 14 that implementation of the agreement was underway.
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