Iran and North Korea in the US-China Equation in the Indo-Pacific Region

Abdullah, Abbas Jaber; Dakhel, Mohammed Sahib

doi:10.63677/jqlap.2025.166368.1480

	Iran and North Korea in the US-China Equation in the Indo-Pacific Region
AL-Qadisiya Journal For Law and Political Sciences
Article 84, Volume 17, Issue: 1 part 1, March 2026, Pages 895-816 PDF (684.99 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.63677/jqlap.2025.166368.1480
Authors
Abbas Jaber Abdullah^* ¹; Mohammed Sahib Dakhel²
¹Al-Muthanna University, College of Education for Humanities
²Al-Muthanna University, College of Applied Medical Sciences
Abstract
This article explores the roles of Iran and North Korea in shaping the dynamics of U.S.–China relations within the Indo-Pacific region, which has emerged as the core arena of contemporary geopolitical rivalry. The study investigates how China employs its relationships with these two states as indirect instruments of strategic leverage against U.S. policies, particularly in the realms of regional security, energy, and nuclear proliferation. It further examines the American approach toward Tehran and Pyongyang, focusing on Washington’s attempts to curtail their influence through containment strategies and reinforced regional alliances. Using a descriptive and analytical methodology, supported by academic literature and official documents, the paper interprets the interaction between major powers and active regional actors. The findings reveal that Iran and North Korea function as strategic balancing assets utilized by China to enhance its geopolitical influence vis-à-vis the United States, whereas Washington perceives both as persistent threats necessitating containment and deterrence within the broader context of the Indo-Pacific power competition.

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