Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday urged the United States to lift unilateral sanctions on Iran and long-arm jurisdiction on countries, including China. 

Wang, who is on a six-nation tour in the Middle East, made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran. 

China welcomes the intention expressed by the new U.S. administration to return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Wang said, adding that safeguarding the deal is safeguarding multilateralism. The U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions against Iran.

Rouhani said there should not be any precondition for the U.S. to resume implementing the deal, and urged Washington to take action first. 

Iran appreciates China's important role in maintaining the deal and is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China, he said.

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Also on Saturday, Wang met with Ali Larijani, advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. 

Wang and Zarif inked a 25-year cooperation agreement between the two countries, covering political and economic areas. 

In his meeting with Rouhani, Wang said the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership has withstood many changes in the international context. "No matter how the international situation changes, China's willingness to develop relations with Iran will not change," he said. 

The cooperation agreement signed will further promote the development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said. 

The Iranian president said the agreement will help draw a roadmap for future cooperation between the two countries, adding that Iran hopes to work with China to strengthen cooperation in fighting COVID-19 and terrorism and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. 

Iran believes that problems should be resolved through dialogue, Rouhani said. The country hopes to enhance coordination with China to maintain regional security, he told Wang. 

Saeed Khatibzadeh, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said the document was a "roadmap" for trade, economic and transportation cooperation, with a "special focus on the private sectors of both sides."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Iran. The two countries forged a comprehensive strategic partnership in January 2016. China is Iran's biggest trading partner.

Calling China and Iran traditional friendly partners, Wang pointed out in his talks with Larijani that China has always viewed bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective.

No matter how the international and regional situations change, China will unswervingly maintain its friendly policies towards Iran, the Chinese diplomat stressed.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China-Iran ties stand at a new historical starting point, Wang said, adding that China is willing to work with Iran to open new frontiers of cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples, and world peace and development.

For his part, Larijani said Iran attaches great importance to its relations with China, noting that bilateral relations have ushered in a new era.

Iran is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields, including anti-terrorism cooperation, he said.

Larijani also said that Iran highly appreciates China's just position of opposing the U.S.-led unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran. He added that Iran is ready to cooperate with China closely to find a way through dialogue and negotiation to resolve the differences among the parties to the Iranian nuclear deal to safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East.

China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Iran in fields such as fighting epidemics and protecting public health, and push forward the construction of a community of health for mankind, Wang told Zarif.

Wang also called for enhancing China-Iran cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to promote further development of bilateral relations. The two countries, said the Chinese diplomat, should take the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties as an opportunity to actively carry out cultural and people-to-people exchanges and enhance the friendship between the two peoples.

China welcomes Iran to send a delegation to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, Wang added.

Zarif said that Iran attaches great importance to its relations with China, and strengthening cooperation with China is a strategic choice made by Iran.

Iran looks forward to participating in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and will resist any attempt to sabotage the games, said Zarif.

On the Iranian nuclear issue, the Iranian top diplomat stressed that the United States, instead of making unreasonable demands on Iran, should take the first step, lift unilateral sanctions against Iran, and return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Calling China a reliable partner on this matter, Zarif said Iran is willing to work closely with China to push the JCPOA back on track.

Wang concluded his visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkey earlier this week. His next stop is the United Arab Emirates, followed by Oman and Bahrain.

(With input from Xinhua)