Tasnim – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Islamic Republic is determined to uphold its longstanding policy of maintaining “balanced” and “friendly” relations with all Eurasian and East Asian powers.

“Iran has a longstanding policy of maintaining balanced, friendly relations w/ all Eurasian & E/S Asian powers. Our potential longterm cooperation agreements w/ #China & #Russia, & our continued joint work w/ #India in Chabahar prove this. We are determined to uphold this policy,” Seyed Abbas Mousavi tweeted on Saturday.

Recently, the spokesman also said that Tehran attached great importance to enhanced trade ties with neighboring countries.

"The expansion of economic cooperation with neighbors has been among Iran's main priorities," Mousavi said on July 16.

He pointed out that Iran has 15 neighbors which can help it circumvent the sanctions and make them “ineffective”.

“Our country is currently experiencing an economy without oil (revenues). Therefore, the expansion of economic cooperation with neighbors as well as the contribution of the private sector to reduce economic pressures is important more than ever,” he added.

In April 2019, the United States said it would stop waivers for countries buying Iranian oil, in an attempt to push Iran’s oil exports to zero.

Efforts by the Trump administration to isolate Iran politically and economically began with Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in 2018.