The ICT minister of Iran, on Tuesday, hailed Italy’s stance towards cooperation with Iran under US sanctions saying, “compared with other European countries, Italy has applied a better and a more independent stance towards Iran under US illegal pressures.”

“Presently, some Italian ICT companies are active in Iran despite the US imposed sanctions and pressures,” he said, “We are inclined to expand such ties with Italy as well as the economic relationship between the two countries’ private sectors as they are operating under such conditions.”

He also called for the two sides to commence their negotiations on digital economy collaboration and cooperation.

The Italian minister, for his part, announced that his country eyes development of ties with Iran and is hopeful about bilateral relations of the two countries, despite US sanctions.

He voiced the readiness of his country for the improvement of cooperation between the private sectors of both Iran and Italy as well as collaboration on the artificial intelligence sector.