Tehran (IP) - Iran's Foreign Minister, at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday, called Moscow as Tehran's strategic neighbor as the two officials talked over different bilateral subjects of interest.

Iran PressIran News: Speaking at the joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Mohammad Javad Zarif said a cultural agreement was signed between the two sides.

Iran's Foreign Minister also elaborated on bilateral cooperation between Iran and Russia in the different fields ranging from the economic to nuclear.

Zarif explained further that the Persian Gulf states' issues and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are the two countries' main interests of cooperation.

Iran's Foreign Minister praised Russia's stance against the sabotage in Natanz and stressed the two countries' continued cooperation in lifting US sanctions.

US return to JCPOA, the only path for Washington

Zarif added: "The United States should return to its commitments soon and lift all sanctions, and Iran will return to the implementation of JCPOA after verification."

Referring to the EU sanctions against several Iranian officials and entities, Zarif also said Europe must put aside its empty and baseless so-called human rights gestures and look at the facts.

"Europeans need to think about their own dignity. Europe is not in a morally superior position and cannot preach to the world," Zarif said.

"EU is a place where xenophobia and anti-Islamism have created terrible conditions for Muslims. It has neither a reputation nor a position to sanction Iranians. The sooner Europeans understand this, the sooner they will realize it," he noted.

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