TEHRAN – Iran has emphasized the significance of strong bilateral ties between the Islamic Republic and Russia, saying Tehran will not allow anything to disrupt ties between the all-weather allies.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, in an interview with Russia’s Sputnik news agency, said relations between Tehran and Moscow are “strategic” and cannot be allowed to be disrupted. Khatibzadeh blamed the current situation in Ukraine on NATO’s eastward expansion and the West’s failure to take into consideration Russia’s security concerns.