Zarif: Iran's Ties With China, Russia Strengthened By Years of Sanctions

Iran has emerged from decades of crippling Western sanctions with stronger ties to China and Russia, Iranian Foreign Ministry Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saturday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Iran returned to the global market earlier this year after complying with requirements outlined in the July 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers – the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China, and Germany.

"We have maintained and boosted ties with Russia and China," Zarif told reporters, as quoted by the national IRNA news agency.

He stressed that Tehran would never forget those who stood by it during the harsh period of sanctions. Zarif also reiterated that Iran wanted to be a trade partner to many nations – not just a new consumer market for Western countries, according to IRNA.