Tasnim � Ali Akbar Velayati, an international adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, highlighted Washington�s hostilities against Iran and China and said the two Asian countries will prevent the US presence in the region.

The Americans do not want a successful influential country in West Asia like Iran and a powerful influential country like China in East Asia to exist, Velayati told reporters after a meeting with an academic delegation from China in Tehran on Saturday evening.

�This will cause Iran and China, which believe in their independence, power and ability, to prevent the influence and presence of the United States and those seeking to destroy independence,� he added.

Velayati further hailed his meeting with the Chinese delegation as �very valuable� and said a number of successful plans were raised in the talks.

Iran and China have close diplomatic, economic, trade and energy ties, and in recent years have developed their military relations as well.

Back in November 2016, the defense ministers of Iran and China signed an agreement in Tehran to enhance the defense cooperation between the two countries.