THE Iranian President, Mr Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, in the amidst of Tehran's crisis with the EU, yesterday called for greater three way co operation between China, Russia and Iran.
"Iran, China and Russia are three important countries in a strategic region of the world. We have vast resources and capacities in political, economic and industrial fields," Mr Rafsanjani said at a meeting in Tehran with the Chinese Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Li Lanqing.
"Through a three way co operation, we can not only meet each other's needs but boost regional prosperity," he said, according to Iranian state radio.
Iranian leaders have shown a desire to turn to Asian countries for economic and trade relations in retaliation for EU charges that Tehran engaged in terrorism.
The Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Alaeddin Borujerdi, said on Thursday at a meeting with the ambassadors of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines that the future of relations with Asian countries was "bright and shiny."
Mr Borujerdi said Europe was the "main loser" in the political dispute with Iran, and that the Islamic republic would "turn more to the East" in its economic relations.
Iran is locked in a political crisis with the EU over accusations that Tehran was involved in the 1992 assassination of four Kurdish dissidents in Germany. The EU has ended ministerial contacts with Iran, but stopped short of severing economic ties. Some European countries, including Germany, are currently among Iran's biggest economic partners.
Russia has meanwhile assured Iran of its continued support in the political storm between the Islamic republic and the EU. The Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Yevgeny Primakov, sent a message to hiss Iranian counterpart, Mr Ali Akbar Velayati, saying that Moscow's attitude toward Tehran would not be affected by the dispute.