The story: Iran says it has started implementing a 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership with China, portraying the March 2021 accord as a “win-win.” This comes as domestic criticism that emerged as the agreement was being signed has resurfaced, with skeptics in Iran demanding more transparency. The claimed implementation of the China partnership comes as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is set to visit Moscow for talks on a possible 20-year deal with Russia.

The coverage: Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announced the implementation...