"By vetoing the proposed sanctions China and Russia have been just," Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said.
"The Security Council has become a tool for the West`s bullying ... of other nations, and this time Russia and China stood up against it," the Islamic republic`s top diplomat said.
"The Security Council ... wanted to take a path in deciding a head of state, while it is not within the functions of this council to interfere in other nations` internal affairs," he said.
Russia and China on Saturday blocked a Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its crackdown on protests, drawing condemnation from other global powers and the Syrian opposition.
The other 13 countries in the 15-member council voted for the resolution, proposed by European and Arab nations to give strong backing to an Arab League plan calling for President Bashar al-Assad to hand over to his deputy.
Syria is Iran`s main ally in the Arab world.
The United States and France accuse Iran of supplying Syria with arms to put down a revolt which has seen at least 6,000 people killed since last March, according to opposition activists.
Iran`s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last Tuesday warned against US interference in Syria`s internal affairs while saying he backed reform for the Syrian people. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
