Haddad-Adel: Iran seeks strategic ties with China

TEHRAN - Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, a member of the Expediency Council and a cultural and political figure, said on Tuesday that Iran seeks strategic and long-standing ties with China.

During a speech at Beijing International Studies University, Hadad Adel said Iran attaches great importance to expansion of cultural relations in order to lay grounds for expansion of ties.

He also praised China’s policy of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, describing it as “proper” and “wise” policy.

“We believe that in a world in which nations are suffering from adventurism of some powers, China can help create a balance in the international atmosphere through preventing the world from become unipolar,” he stated.

The former parliament speaker added that Iran and China can establish stable economic relations, suggesting Iran can meet China’s energy needs and China can make investments in Iran.

Hadad Adel noted that Iran prioritizes ties with China in its foreign policy.

The White House announced on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump has decided not to renew waivers that allow eight countries, including China, to buy Iranian oil without facing Washington’s sanctions.

China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it has formally complained to the United States over its decision to end waivers on sanctions on Iranian oil imports, Reuters reported.

Geng Shuang, a ministry spokesman, said that China is resolutely opposed to the U.S. enforcing unilateral sanctions.

Trump unilaterally pulled Washington out of the 2015 nuclear deal in May 2018 and ordered reimposition of sanctions against Iran. The first round of sanctions went into force on August 6 and the second round, which targets Iran’s oil exports and banks, were snapped back on November 4.

Expansion of scientific ties possible by reducing religious discord: Official

Tehran, Oct 14, IRNA – Universities and students can expand scientific, political, and religious relations by putting aside religious disagreements, said the Head of the Persian Language Academy.

'Improving academic and scientific ties in the region, especially with Russia, will lead to benefiting from scientific, political and religious discussions,' said Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel in a conference on Iran-Russia Scientific and Cultural Collaborations. 

'Students should actualize their potential by using the friendly atmosphere that exists in the ties between Iran and Russia,' said Haddad-Adel.

'Now, in all fields, especially in the political and security areas, Russia and Iran support each other.' 
 
Referring to the variety of religions in the world, he said, 'After the Islamic revolution in Iran, universities have tried to resolve religious disagreement to converge the students in one environment.'

He also said that though religions have a lot of differences, they also enjoy a lot of similarities.

University of Islamic Sects has been able to provide a chance for getting acquainted with other countries, especially Russia, he said. 

Young people should accept that religions are different and focus on similarities of the religions to counter irreligion, Haddad-Adel said.

The one-day conference was held in Tehran with the presence of the Russian Ambassador in Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan and some authorities and intellectuals of Iran and Russia.