“We welcome China’s principled statement rejecting illegal (US) sanctions against Iran,” Qalibaf write in a post on X late on Wednesday.

“The Iran-China comprehensive strategic partnership is rooted in mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and a shared vision for a multipolar world,” he added.

“This relationship needs no one’s permission,” Qalibaf emphasized.

His remarks came after China’s foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the latest US moves against Iran and said his country is firmly against illicit sanctions that have no basis in international law or UN Security Council mandate.

“Economic warfare and maximum pressure provide no solution. On the contrary, they only serve to fuel tensions and lead to risk spillover, which will disrupt the global economic and financial order, and harm the legitimate rights and interests of other countries,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing on Tuesday.