EghtesadOnline: Oil trade is the cornerstone of Europe’s financial mechanism to maintain business ties with Iran and the system cannot operate without covering the sale of Iranian crude, Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said.

EghtesadOnline: “This does not violate United Nations Security Council resolutions or China’s promised international obligations, nor does it harm the interests of any other country, and should be respected and protected,” the ministry added.