I have friends and family who are Iranian. They seem to be under the same "debt-trap" impression as liberals here believe, thinking that China will simply annex them into their "sphere"; which is a kick to the gut for a people who've been under four decade siege for the crime of asserting their independence. I don't really blame them, seeing as how America has been doing to them what we accuse Russia of doing to us. Plus, Chinese foreign policy has had some "big-brained" moments bordering on imperialism, at times.