Iran not to reduce Russia, China ties

Iran says it has no plans to decrease relations with Russia and China, despite having grievances over their support for a new round of UN sanctions against the country.

Speaking to Mehr news agency on Sunday, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said the country has made no plans to downgrade relations with long-time partners, Russia and China.

“Iranian officials are rather disappointed with Russia and China’s approval of more sanctions against Tehran, but this does not mean we are looking for ways to reduce the level of relations with the two countries,” Boroujerdi said.

After months of political maneuvering, the UN Security Council passed a US-drafted resolution for a fourth set of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities.

The move drew a sharp response from Iranian officials, particularly because it came only weeks after related authorities in the country ratified the Tehran declaration as a confidence-building measure to resolve the deadlock over its nuclear issue.

Under the declaration, Iran expressed willingness to ship 1,200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for processed fuel rods to power its Tehran Research Reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.

Western powers accuse Iran of making efforts to develop nuclear weapons — a charge Tehran officials flatly reject, saying that the country’s uranium enrichment program is solely aimed at the peaceful applications of the technology.