Iran today stands stronger than ever: Raisi

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The efforts of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) help to develop a multipolar world, according to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday.

Only Western countries, according to the President, continue to stand in the way of the building of a multipolar world, adding that a multipolar world, in particular, "is built with the help of regional organizations such as the SCO."

Iran's influence in the world and the region would rise with cooperation with friends, Raisi said in response to a question from a Sputnik correspondent at the General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies. "We are serious about developing relations with Russia and other countries," he added.

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Raisi said the creation of a multipolar world cannot be stopped because there are already many centers of influence outside the Western world, accusing the enemies of seeking to make the world and regional countries give up their independence. "The construction of a multipolar world cannot be stopped. There are already many centers of power outside the Western world," he said at the General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies.

About the sanctions, the President said they assassinate the economy of the countries, adding that this sanction is the same as a military war. He emphasized that the United States started using methods of information terrorism due to the ineffectiveness of sanctions.

"The United States has already understood that sanctions do not work. Therefore, it began to use other methods ... Information terrorism is the main problem," Raisi said at the General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies.

They, through cultural terrorism, are also after concealing the truth, he underlined.

So, the media are responsible for protecting the identity of the people of Asia and Oceania, the President stressed, highlighting at the same time that media outlets must be focused on safeguarding nations' independence, identity, and freedom, calling it a vital job for the media.

Today, the world arrogance is after changing the societies’ understandings via imposing its own thoughts, he said, adding that media has a duty to compete with such a move.

The Iranian President stated that Tehran gives high priority to the policy of multipolarity and sustainable integration with a view to establishing a fair international order based on mutual respect.

Nuclear deal

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian President said the United States should decide on the negotiations to remove sanctions on Iran, but it delays and wastes time.

There is no deviation in Iran’s nuclear activities as the issue has already been confirmed 15 times by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the President noted.

In the talks, the Islamic Republic has spoken with reason and logic, he underlined.

“We’re determined to follow the nation’s rights,” he said, adding that removing the sanctions and foiling them are both on the agenda simultaneously.

Raisi made the statements during a meeting with members of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) in Tehran for the organization's 18th general session on Tuesday.

Representatives of the OANA met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday in the Foreign Ministry.

The 18th General Assembly of the Organization of Asian-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) convened in Tehran, Iran, in the presence of Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili.

Around 60 senior directors, managers, and editors from 35 OANA member countries are attending the two-day OANA general meeting to discuss a variety of themes, including the development and strengthening of media cooperation.