Iran to build closer ties to Russia, China following Bolton appointment: MP

A senior Iranian MP said the country should build closer relations with Russia and China to offset a US foreign policy that is expected to grow more hawkish, Reuters reported.

Iranian officials see the nomination of John Bolton as top US national security adviser as another nail in the coffin for the P5+1 nuclear agreement. Trump also recently appointed Mike Pompeo, another Iran hawk, as secretary of state.

"Americans are pushing for harder policies toward the Islamic Republic of Iran and we need to strengthen our view toward the East, especially China and Russia," said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.

"The use of hardline anti-Iran elements indicates that Americans are pushing for more pressure on Iran, ... mainly as a kick-back to Zionists (Israel) and Saudi Arabia," Boroujerdi added.

In a separate matter on Saturday, Iran denounced the Trump administration's decision to press charges and sanction nine Iranians for allegedly hacking hundreds of universities, private companies and US federal agencies.

Because the US has no extradition treaty with Iran, most observers say the move is largely symbolic - part of Washington's strategy to "name and shame" foreign hackers.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi called the charges "provocative, illegitimate, and without any justifiable reason and another sign of the hostillity of the (US) ruling circles toward the Iranian nation".

"America will certainly fail in preventing the scientific development of the Iranian people through sanctions," Qasemi added.

US President Donald Trump has been a frequent critic of Iran. During the 2016 election, he repeatedly threatened to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal that was championed by his predecessor Barack Obama. 

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