FM: UN sanctions bid fails as Iran deepens bonds with Russia, China

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, stated that the sanctions imposed on Iran—including unilateral measures and fresh restrictions triggered by Western nations via the "snapback" mechanism—will motivate a more innovative and dynamic response from both public and private sectors.

Addressing reporters on the margins of the inaugural session of the headquarters for coordinating SCO and BRICS activities, convened on October 21 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gharibabadi highlighted that, even amid the challenges of sanctions hampering global interactions, numerous opportunities exist worldwide that Iran plans to capitalise on.

In response to inquiries regarding the stances of Russia and China in the SCO and BRICS, the diplomat pointed out that the U.S. declaration, alongside several Western countries, attempting to reinstate UN Security Council sanctions on Iran, was rejected by the broader international community. He explained that the vast majority of nations, encompassing members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the ‘Friends of the UN Charter’ group, as well as China and Russia, refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of these moves.

Gharibabadi further noted that the absence of agreement within the Security Council on this matter underscores the effectiveness of Iran's diplomatic initiatives and the fragility of the legal foundation supporting its adversaries' actions. He emphasised the need to bolster ties with neighbouring countries and through multilateral frameworks like BRICS and the SCO, while revealing Tehran's commitment to expanding strategic partnerships with Moscow and Beijing.

The deputy minister indicated that the meeting's objective was to enable Iran's executive branches to more efficiently harness the capabilities of these organisations under prevailing conditions.

Iran joined BRICS as a full member on 1 January 2024 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in July 2023.

By Tamilla Hasanova