Tehran-Beijing Relations , Strategic and Comprehensive

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi said on Monday that Iran and China have always had common historical ties as well as good relations in various political and economic dimensions in East Asia.

Responding to Iran Press’ question at his weekly press conference, Mousavi highlighted, “During a trip by the Chinese President to Iran in 2015, the two sides agreed to take a strategic view as well as a road map into consideration. Afterward, Iran and China drafted an agreement several times. Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif delivered the suggestions by the Iranian side to the Chinese during a trip he had to the country. Consequently, the draft agreement was finalized by Iran, and should be delivered to the Chinese side to be finalized.”

The spokesman stressed, “The strategic agreement between Iran and China is unbelievable and at the same time unacceptable for different parties. They believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran, through this act, is making the cruel sanctions imposed against the Asian country ineffective which they are right in this case.”

Mousavi went on to say, “Iran is ready to define its long-term relations with other countries that have long-standing ties with it. The same procedures have been taken for some countries. Foreign roots have been the causes of the attacks. The Iranian nation is vigilant, and will not be the victim of a smear campaign that has been conducted by the rivals.”

Iran is considered as an important country in West Asia and China is considered as an important one in East Asia and relations between two countries has always been peaceful, the spokesman said.

He further said that Tehran does not accept the Europeans’ middle-course stance between the US and Iran.

“The Europeans’ stance is “not constructive”, Abbas Mousavi said, adding that Iran clearly announces that Europeans have some commitments they should be loyal to, but they are defeated by the US pressures that is by no means good for their international reputation.

Answering a question about why the details of the draft agreement between China and Iran are not revealed, Mousavi said the accord is still being negotiated. It is a roadmap that should be carefully-wrought. And those trying to sabotage it know “our sensitivity”.

He said that when finalized, the document will be published and that the hype is for distancing Beijing and Tehran from each other.

Regarding the fire in a U.S. warship in San Diego, he said the issue does not concern to Iran, but it is interesting how soon the US warships catch fire. “May be the American cheetah are responsible for.”

Calling on Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise self-restraint and resolve their dispute over Karabakh through political ways, Mousavi expressed sorrow over the incident in which Azeri forces were killed.

Iran has repeatedly expressed readiness for helping the two neighboring countries to solve the issue peacefully, he said.

He said that the current Iranian year was named surge in production, which means when the Iranian markets are glutted, the country will need new markets for exports.

Iran has been talking with the neighboring countries about customs tariffs and use of national currencies for trade, he said.

Regarding the issue of fire that happened in Natanz nuclear facility, Mousavi said that the incident has no effects on Iran’s nuclear activities and that the job in Natanz in being done and the place is being reconstructed.

With regards to the 7-billion-dollar debt of South Korea to Iran, he said that the talks are in progress at the level of foreign ministries and central banks of the countries, adding that Iran has already told the Koreans that their pretext not to pay the debt of the Iranian people is by no means acceptable.

Mousavi said that Iran is not under UN sanctions; a rebel and bully country has sanctioned Iran, and South Korea as independent country has no duty to follow the sanctions.

Hoping that South Korea will pay its debts, he said the pretext of Seoul is accepted in no court.