The 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with China, signed in 2021, and enhanced military cooperation with Russia, exemplify this eastward pivot.Reviving the Vienna Agreement and Restoring Ties with Riyadh
Despite his hardline stance, Amirabdollahian has been pragmatic in addressing critical issues such as the Vienna Agreement (JCPOA) and relations with Saudi Arabia. The maximum pressure policy imposed by the US had exacerbated Iran’s economic woes, making the easing of sanctions an urgent priority. Amirabdollahian has been critical of the nuclear deal’s implementation rather than the deal itself, arguing that Western countries have not fulfilled their commitments, necessitating a robust Iranian response.