Speaking in a joint press conference with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in Tehran on Saturday, Amir Abdollahian pointed to the Iranian administration's “Look to Asia” policy.

He called on Asian countries to serve their national interests through dialogue and interaction given high capacities in the continent.

The minister stated that Iran and Sri Lanka have consensus on the significance of boosting relations in trade and tourism fields and cooperation in international organizations.

He added the two Asian countries also believe they should improve scientific and cultural cooperation and making use of the capacities of knowledge-based firms.

The senior diplomat continued that Iran and Sri Lanka are capable of removing obstacles in the way of strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The top official further emphasized that Sri Lanka’s upcoming chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) provides an opportunity for Iran's enhanced cooperation with Sri Lanka and other members of the organization.

Amir Abdollahian further said Tehran and Colombo also agreed to free the two sides' prisoners based on the existing agreements and a humanitarian approach, adding that the joint consular committee of the two countries would be set up in this regard.

 He also emphasized that Iranian firms active in the field of the export of technical and engineering services can construct oil refineries and power plants in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan foreign minister, for his part, commended the Iranian nation's power and resilience despite numerous acts of hostility and provocation.

Sabry stated his country was keen to bolster cordial relations with Iran, saying his current visit to Tehran can open a new chapter in good ties between the two countries.

Describing his country as the gateway to East Asia, he invited the Iranian companies to make investment in Sri Lanka.

The top Sri Lankan diplomat also praised Iran's great technological progress despite sanctions and restrictions.

The Rayeesi administration has been pushing to forge closer relations with neighbors, regional and Asian nations, Latin American countries as well as Eastern and African nations as part of a campaign against the US sanctions in place against the country.

Iranian officials say the future of the world will not witness unilateralism, and multilateralism will spread across the globe.

They stress that the future of the world and region will be shaped by regional countries and organizations, as a growing number of states across the globe have rejected unilateralism and coercion. They asked independent states to challenge the US hegemony in the region and around the world, and stressed that domineering behavior is not just special to Democrats or Republicans but in the nature of American policies.

Officials in Iran have underlined that the US has been defeated in the maximum pressure policy against Tehran, underscoring that the policy of isolating Iran has ended up in failure. They say Washington's sanctions and threats have all failed to cease Tehran's progress.