Even so, Russia and China continue to take a much more lenient approach to Iran than Europe and the US have since the International Atomic Energy Agency’s report in November 2011 described in detail Iran’s activities in pursuing the capability to produce nuclear weapons. While the Western powers have embraced ever-harsher sanctions, Russia and China view Iran as a tool in their global competition with the US.
尽管如此，从2011年11月国际原子能机构报告详细阐述伊朗追求核武器制造能力的所作所为以来，俄罗斯和中国对于伊朗的态度依然比欧美国家更为宽松。尽管西方列强采取的制裁措施比以往任何时候都更严厉，但俄罗斯和中国却把伊朗作为工具与美国展开全球竞争。