Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Can China decide the future of Iran?

As Donald Trump meets Xi Jinping in Beijing, a major question hangs over the future of the Islamic Republic: is China now the regime’s most important lifeline?

On this edition of Roqe, Jian Ghomeshi opens with an essay titled “The Regime Is Not Surviving Alone” - exploring how modern dictatorships survive through global alliances, oil markets, sanctions evasion, and international economic interests.

Then, a major panel discussion on China’s relationship with the Islamic Republic and whether Beijing could ultimately help determine the future of Iran and the Lion & Sun Revolution.

Featuring:

Shayan Sami’i - U.S. national security analyst and strategic communications expert - Vienna, Virginia

Dr. Shahram Kholdi - historian and political analyst specializing in modern Iranian politics and geopolitics - Southwestern Ontario

Topics include:

China’s role in sustaining the Islamic Republic
Iranian oil exports to China
Trump and Xi’s discussions on Iran
Sanctions and geopolitical leverage
China’s strategic interests in the Middle East
Whether Beijing could pressure Tehran
The future of regime change in Iran
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This episode is supported by:

Stellar Law
stellarlaw.ca

Famluxy
famluxy.com

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