“It is right for China, as a great power, to do that. You see the United States is also sending its military vessels everywhere. It is China’s right to send its military vessels,” Velayati said in an interview with the South China Morning Post.

He further added that the two states might conduct more port calls because of China’s growing commercial interests.

“We have to support the transshipment of goods between Iran and other countries. The same right applies to China. It is the right of a country to defend its own transshipment of goods,” the Iranian official underscored.

Elsewhere, Velayati called on Beijing to play bigger role in Iran nuclear talks with other world powers.

“China and Russia have had a moderate position in the negotiation,” the adviser said. “If the Chinese position is more active, it will affect the continuation of the positive result of the talks,” he pointed out.