Iran, China Decry American Unilateralism
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The defense ministers of Iran and China blamed the US government’s unilateral measures for the spread of insecurity and instability in the world, and weighed plans for closer military and defense cooperation between Tehran and Beijing.
Heading a high-ranking military delegation, China’s Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe arrived in Tehran on Wednesday and held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani.
In the meeting at the Iranian Defense Ministry, the two sides slammed the US’ unilateral policies, which they said have escalated instability and insecurity in the world.
They also discussed plans to broaden military and defense cooperation between Iran and China, saying closer bilateral relations would strengthen regional and international stability and security.
Highlighting Iran’s policy of developing ties with the neighboring and Asian states, Ashtiani said the “strategic and important” cooperation between Iran and China has its roots in their historical and civilizational relations and their common views on international developments.
Describing the West’s expansionist and supremacist policies as the root cause of growing security crises in the world, the Iranian defense minister stressed the need to counter the US’ hegemony in the world by empowering multilateralism.
“The common security challenges and threats can be combatted through interaction and cooperation among the independent countries that are opposed to unilateralism in the world,” he noted.
The US’ military presence in every part of the world has only created a wave of insecurity, instability, disagreements, cynicism, wars, destruction and displacement, the Iranian general noted.
For his part, the Chinese defense minister said he has visited Iran with the purpose of increasing the level of strategic defense cooperation between the two countries.
General Wei Fenghe said his trip to Tehran with a group of Chinese military officials indicates how strategic and deep-rooted the relations between China and Iran are.
Describing the US’ hegemonic and unilateral actions as the root cause of many wars and cases of insecurity in the world, Wei Fenghe said the cooperation between the armed forces of Iran and China would play a significant role in thwarting those measures and in fighting against terrorism.
