The unilateral approach adopted by the United States has pushed the world on a "dangerous" downward spiral, President Hassan Rouhani said Friday, calling on world leaders not to sit idle while international law and agreements are being undermined.
"US unilateralism is dangerous for the world order," he told reporters in Tehran before flying to China to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on June 9 and 10, IRNA reported.
Jointly led by Russia and China, the SCO was launched in 2001 to address regional security, political and economic challenges. The eight-member grouping also includes Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and, since last year, Pakistan and India.
Iran is an observer member and has long sought full membership.
On the sidelines of the summit in the northern coastal city of Qingdao, the president is expected to discuss bilateral relations and the future of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and other leaders.
Affront to Int'l Community
"The Americans unilaterally withdrew from a multilateral and international agreement without any reason and against international law, which was an insult to the international community and violated UN Security Council Resolution 2231," Rouhani said, referring to the US departure from the nuclear deal with world powers, which was endorsed by the UN Security Council.
"The entire world should realize that the approach pursued by the US poses a threat to international relations as well as efforts to uphold international law and undermines international treaties," he added, noting that other states should not remain silent against illegal actions by the US.
US Illusion
Rouhani said the US government is under the "illusion" that it can decide for the whole world and touted the fact that an overwhelming majority of countries oppose Washington's decision to pull out of the nuclear accord.
European powers are scrambling to save the pact—under which Iran curbed its nuclear program in return for a lifting of international sanctions—through ensuring the continuing economic benefits to Tehran that are linked to the agreement.
Sino Ties
Political experts say the meeting between Xi and Rouhani presents an opportunity for Tehran to further cement its economic and political ties with Beijing, and for China to reinforce its growing geopolitical influence in the strategic Middle East region.
China is Iran's top trade partner and one of the biggest buyers of its oil, and Chinese leaders have pledged to forge ahead with plans to expand business ties with Tehran despite the threat posed by a revival of US sanctions later this year.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing Hua Chunying recently dismissed reports that businesses are retreating from Iran, saying Beijing and Tehran "maintain normal economic and trade ties" and will continue to cooperate "on the basis of not violating our international obligations".
And in an indirect dig at the US, Hua said China "opposes one country imposing unilateral sanctions on others in accordance with its domestic laws," Al Jazeera reported.
Security Concerns
Rouhani said "radicalism" and "terrorism" are major threats to international peace and security, particularly in West and Central Asia, adding that Iran can share its experience in fighting terrorism with other countries.
The president also criticized foreign interference in the internal affairs of regional countries and highlighted the importance of "diplomacy", "dialogue" and "cooperation" to resolve the problems besetting the region.
New Agreements
Chinese officials have said the summit will attempt to forge new agreements on security issues such as counter-terrorism and drug trafficking among the bloc and promote Beijing's massive Belt and Road infrastructure project in Central and South Asia.
China has said it supports Iran's application to become a full member, and Russia had previously argued that with western sanctions against Tehran lifted, it could finally become a member of the organization, according to Reuters.
