Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, The President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations in his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Chang Hua, said that the volume of Iran–China cooperation is far from favorable. He said the reason that Tehran-Beijing relations are not yet at a desirable level is the outrageous sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States.

Voicing Iran’s appreciation of China for its stances on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Dr. Kharrazi said: ” The unilateral withdrawal of the United States has exposed the agreement to risk. Iran has been forced to take steps to reduce its JCPOA commitments in accordance with its interests and the text and spirit of the deal.

Dr. Kharrazi emphasized: The JCPOA as a half-dead body is going through a critical phase, but we are happy with the efforts of China and Russia to prevent the death of this agreement.

Referring to the thousands of years of Iran-China relations as two great civilizations, the President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations stated that: Iran-China enjoy to have special relations in the present era.

Welcoming the establishment of a center for Iranian studies in China and its engagement with a center for Chinese studies in Iran, he emphasized the need to further enhance the scientific and academic exchanges between the two countries.

Dr. Kharrazi, referring to the unilateral lift of visa requirement by Iran to facilitate the travel of Chinese nationals to our country, said: Increasing the level of communication between the two nations would enhance mutual understanding between the two countries.

In response to the Chinese ambassador’s question on Iran’s regional policies, the SCFR president stated that: Iran has always called for peaceful relations with the countries of the region and welcomes any step taken towards resolving regional disputes.

He added: The root cause of the differences in the region is the dependence of some countries on Western powers, especially the United States.

Dr. Kharrazi, noting that Iran has formulated its policy on the basis of independence from other powers, said: “America’s abuse of the resources of the regional states is quite obvious and even President Trump has formally called Saudi Arabia as a “milking cow”. This humiliation of Saudi Arabia by the United States is a matter of deep regret, he noted.

The head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations emphasized that Iran’s vision is to develop regional security by the collective cooperation of countries of the region. He said the “Hormuz Peace Initiative” has been officially proposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran to serve this purpose.

He said the security of the region is not the goal of the US; what Washington pursues is its own interests, adding that the US intervenes in Iraq and Afghanistan, has failed to develop security in those countries.

Referring to the US military presence in the region, Dr. Kharrazi said: “These policies are in contradiction with Iran’s independent policies.”

The SCFR president expressed satisfaction with the Chinese policies to help other countries to develop: policies that are different from US policies. “We evaluate the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative in this direction.

China’s ambassador to Iran, Chang Hua, also expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of Chinese think-tanks with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations. He said Iran-China relations are strategic and mutual confidence between Tehran and Beijing is on the rise.

Referring to his recent article under the title “America, the Main Cause of Unrest in the Middle East,” the ambassador said China is opposed to US expansionist policies.

“We are working to accelerate the strengthening of relations between the two countries,” Chang Hua said, adding that the level of cooperation between Iran and China has been going well in recent years. The Chinese side’s intention is to develop a strategic partnership between the two countries.”

The Chinese ambassador also noted that Iran has been an important country on the Silk Road and in China’s view Tehran is an important partner in implementing the “One Belt One Road” Project.