IRNA -- Iran's interests lie in a strong region independent of foreign players for establishing its security and stability, the country's Foreign Minister said on Wednesday.

'Being separate from neighbors has never been among Iran's policies, rather the priority has always been to have good ties with the neighboring countries,' Mohammad Javad Zarif said.

'If the neighbors are prepared for this, instead of seeking tensions in the region, they will certainly find Iran a good companion and a country whose interests lie in the stability and security of the region.'

'Our country's interest is in the strength of the region and its independence of external factor for its security and it can generate security on its own, based on people's demand,' he added.

'These are Iran's demand; the more its neighbors adjust themselves to the facts, the better days we would see in the future,' Zarif added.

As to the bill the Parliament (Majlis) is preparing to confront the new US sanctions against Iran, he said: 'Probably, the first move would be the related to the bill of the Parliament (Majlis), the discussion of which has been done.'

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports the Parliament on the path, he affirmed.

Iran's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs spokesman Abbas Araqchi announced on Saturday that the Ministry agreed with the draft of the bill by the Parliament in retaliation to the new US sanctions against Iran.

'There are some other options and measures, including legal and political ones, as well as those by the Atomic Energy Organization, and all of htem have been planned and will be duly implemented,' the Foreign Minister said.

He also emphasized 'the end of Iranophobia attempts and the propaganda by US and the Zionist to introduce Iran as a threat to regional and global security and order' and described it as the Ministry's achievement in foreign policy during the past four years.

'Now Iran is not only playing a role in regional equations, but also the regional equations are formed around Iran,' he elaborated.

The US has attempted to deny Iran their full benefits from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but I guess Tehran with its prudent policies has made the European countries to distance themselves from those of the US, he added, calling it a 'significant development'.

The agreement with Total was signed when the attempts were in its highest amount, nevertheless Total came to Iran, he elaborated, noting that overcoming other remaining problems requires time to be resolved, as it took a long time to isolate Iran from global economy.

National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) on July 3 signed a multi-billion-dollar agreement with an international consortium, headed by the French oil giant, to develop the phase 11 of the South Pars gas field.

'Despite all these plots being attempted by the US, the economic cooperation with Iran in global sphere is being expanded, and this is an indication that we are on the right path,' Zarif argued.

As to various delegations from other countries that are going to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Hassan Rouhani, the Foreign Minister said that the presence is a message that Iran is an active and constructive part of the international relations.

He also rejected any relationship between his greeting with the Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and the Iraqi politician Moqtada Sadr's recent visit to Riyadh.

Earlier in his remarks, the Foreign Minister had said that shaking hands with the Saudi official, despite the difference between Tehran and Riyadh, was a diplomatic norm in international meetings, and having good ties with neighbors is Iran's priority.