US Chaos Strategy Thwarts Eurasian Trade Routes, Iran Remains Last Option

The US has effectively disrupted trade routes across Eurasia, leaving the Iran-China railway as the sole operational link for Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. The Northern Corridor through Russia has become nonviable due to sanctions, while the Middle Corridor has deteriorated under the influence of US/NATO and rising regional tensions. The North-South Transport Corridor is facing challenges, and NATO containment is impacting the Arctic route. On April 8, 2026, Israel targeted the China-Iran railway, but it quickly resumed operations. Following the US blockade on April 13, cargo trains from Xi'an to Tehran now operate every three to four days. By 2029, Ankara and Tehran aim to complete a $1.6 billion railway. Additionally, China is constructing a terminal at the Turkmenistan-Iran border, with two routes involving China, Iran, Turkey, and the EU under development. However, Europe’s economic difficulties pose a risk to China's exports.