The United States’ efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with Russia suffered a blow as Moscow and Beijing jointly called for an end to “unlawful sanctions” on Iran, signaling deepening cooperation between the three nations.
Senior diplomats from Russia, China, and Iran convened in Beijing amid escalating Western pressure on Tehran’s nuclear program. The meeting came as U.S. officials warned that Iran is edging closer to developing a nuclear weapon.
However, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected Western concerns and sanctions.
In a joint statement, the diplomats stressed the “necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions,” a clear reference to the economic restrictions imposed by the U.S. and its allies to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The three nations also urged “relevant parties to refrain from taking any action that would escalate the situation,” emphasizing that diplomatic engagement should be rooted in “mutual respect.”
The meeting underscores growing opposition to U.S. foreign policy in the region, with China and Russia aligning more closely with Iran as tensions over its nuclear program continue to mount.