Russia says West determined to impose sanctions even if Ukraine crisis were not formed

In a meeting with Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the National Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev, who traveled to Tajikistan to attend the fourth regional security dialogue meeting, explained the roots of the Ukraine crisis and the widespread Western intervention to turn the country into a hotbed of insecurity and instability, noting: "Russia's special operation in Ukraine is just an excuse to impose extensive sanctions on our country, and because the West is determined to strike at Russia, these sanctions were imposed even if the crisis in Ukraine were not formed."

Patrushev called the clarification of the very bitter facts about the establishment of chemical and biological laboratories by the United States in Ukraine as one of the fruits of Russia's special operations in that country and said: "Accurate and undeniable evidence are available to prove US illegal activities in Ukraine which we have to release soon."

In the face of unprecedented Western pressure on Iran and Russia, Patrushev said: "The West is trying to impose its will on other countries by using sanctions as tools, but we must plan to overcome the existing conditions by activating new mechanisms, especially the use of currency and an independent financial exchange system."
Emphasizing the need to activate the extensive cooperation capacities between Russia and Iran, he stressed the need to finalize a long-term economic cooperation agreement between the two countries, adding: "Transit cooperation and the completion of the North-South corridor is one of the most important steps that the two countries should make more efforts to use its capacities."
"The widespread Western sanctions against Russia have created an opportunity for our people to become more aware of the futility of the approach of liberal political groups in Russia to the need for full engagement and cooperation with the West, which has hit our national production," Patrushev said.

The Secretary of the National Security Council of Russia called for the finalization of the documents of Iran's full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as soon as possible and added: "Iran's active and comprehensive presence in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will bring wide economic potential to this organization."

Patrushev called the West's planned effort to expand its military presence in the region "very dangerous and worrying."
"The tripartite defense pact between the United States, Britain and Australia, called AUKUS, is also the creation of a new NATO aimed at increasing pressure on China."

Aukus, is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, announced on 15 September 2021 for the Indo-Pacific region. Under the pact, the US and the UK will help Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
Referring to the holding of the sixth Caspian Summit in Turkmenistan this June, he stressed the need to finalize the Caspian Sea legal regime to develop cooperation between the five countries in the region, as well as preventing the military presence of other countries in the region.
The Russian official stated that the Caspian Sea should not be turned into a military zone, and therefore holding military maneuvers with the presence of third countries" in this region is not acceptable at all.

Patrushev elsewhere called the current situation in Afghanistan unfavorable and worrying, and referring to the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran in establishing a regional security dialogue meeting with Afghanistan's neighbors, added: "The opportunity for continuous meetings to help increase stability and security in Afghanistan and the establishment of an inclusive government in this country should be maximized."