Raisi: Iran Ready to Work with China for Afghan Security

In a telephone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Wednesday, Raisi voiced Tehran’s readiness for cooperation with Beijing for the establishment of security, stability and calm in Afghanistan and for contributing to the Afghan people’s development, progress and welfare.

“We believe that the withdrawal of foreigners and also the previous experiences in that country (Afghanistan) have indicated the necessity for cooperation and partnership among all Afghan currents to guarantee the security and development of Afghanistan more than ever,” he added.

Elsewhere in the conversation, the Iranian president described the Sino-Iranian relations as a priority for his administration.

“Enhancement of the level of cooperation and expansion of relations with China is a priority for the Iranian government in the area of foreign policy.” 

Raisi said the complete implementation of the 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that was signed by the countries back in March “should be on the agenda of all of the countries’ (various) apparatuses.”

He further expressed gratitude to Beijing for its supportive stance concerning Iran over various issues.

These, he said, included backing Tehran against instances of the US’ unilateralism, including its withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and others.

The US has to indicate its commitment towards Iran “in action,” he stated, adding that this necessitated that Washington stop its violation of the obligations and relieve the sanctions, according to Press TV.

The Iranian president also thanked China for backing Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Raisi urged that Beijing expedite delivery of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines that Iran had bought from China in order to be able to fight the pandemic.

He, however, thanked China for helping Iran fight the pandemic, and also attached respect to the country’s efforts to help many other nations confront the deadly disease.

The Iranian president, meanwhile, said efforts aimed at the politicization of the virus and its source posed “serious threat” to the entire international community’s health situation. Such malign attempts, he added, exemplified some countries’ push to try to isolate China.

Iran backs China’s sovereignty over the entirety of its territory, Raisi also said, communicating the Islamic Republic’s strong opposition to the US and its allies’ “impudent” efforts to violate the principle.

The Chinese president, for his part, said that the countries’ relations had weathered various international developments over the past half a century.

The ties began fairing even “remarkably” better after the conclusion of the comprehensive Sino-Iranian cooperation deal, he added, noting that China would expend maximum effort to help Iran receive the vaccines.

Xi also thanked Iran over its support for China’s “fundamental interests,” and said his country’s support for Iran’s membership of the SCO was in line with the organization's “long-term interests.”

He referred to the US’s unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear accord as the source of the problems that currently surrounds the deal, saying China “backs Iran’s logical demands.”