Iran foreign ties Archives - Iran News Daily

Iran Seeking Promotion of Cooperation with Germany

reporter 1222 — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 07:51:00 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The Iranian president’s chief of staff called for the promotion of cooperation with Germany, which he hailed as a traditional trade partner of Iran.

“Germany is one of the traditional trade and economic partners of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Tehran welcomes the enhancement of mutual cooperation,” Mahmoud Vaezi said in a meeting with German Ambassador to Iran Hans Odo Motzel, held in Tehran on Tuesday.

The presidential official also highlighted the ample opportunities for cooperation between Tehran and Berlin in the political, trade and humanitarian spheres.

Pointing to Germany’s involvement in the talks on Iran’s nuclear program that resulted in the 2015 agreement, Vaezi said Iran would honor its JCPOA commitments provided that the other sides fulfill theirs.

For his part, the German envoy highlighted Iran’s rich culture and history and its prominent role in the region, stressing the need for dialogue among the countries and cultures.

Dialogue is an effective solution to regional problems, Motzel said.

In meetings with several new European ambassadors to Tehran in late September, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for the promotion of economic ties with European countries and stressed that bilateral trade should not be affected by the illegal and unilateral US sanctions.

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Trade Ties of Iran, Tajikistan Progressing: Official

reporter 1222 — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 06:05:41 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran and Tajikistan have resumed trade cooperation after a long hiatus, said the vice president of Iran-Tajikistan Chamber of Commerce noting that traders of the two countries are now cooperating well, which indicates the progress of trade relations.

Speaking to Iran Daily in an exclusive interview, Kazem Shirdel added that Tehran-Dushanbe relations thawed after almost four years, and in June 2019, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin in a visit to Tehran invited Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to attend the fifth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held on June 15, 2019.

The visiting Tajik foreign minister also called for the expansion of cooperation in different fields between Iran and Tajikistan, said Shirdel adding that President Rouhani’s visit to Tajikistan opened a new chapter in the two sides’ relations.

The official also said the political problem which had soured relations between Tehran and Dushanbe was resolved following visits by Rouhani and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to the Central Asian country.

Shirdel went on to say that the US and Iran’s enemies in the region are trying to spend a lot of money to stir up the mind of Tajik society against Iran and disrupt relations between the two nations.

Following the coronavirus outbreak, Turkmenistan closed Iran-Turkmenistan border crossings which has resulted in a halt in Iran’s exports of goods to Central Asian countries including Tajikistan, he said.

“So we export our goods to Uzbekistan, and then reexport to Tajikistan,” he said, “It is not easy to announce the statics of exports to Tajikistan, but we can say that 60 percent of the goods loaded to Uzbekistan are eventually exported to Tajikistan.”

Pointing to the boost of trade between Iran and Tajikistan during recent two years, Shirdel said Tajik traders have good cooperation with Iranian counterparts despite US sanctions.

It is about two months that rail trade has resumed, he said noting that Iranian traders have to spend an extra charge of $1,000-$1,200 for each wagon for reexport of goods to Tajikistan via Uzbekistan.

Raw materials, granules, tile, decorative stones, adhesives and materials for home appliances as well as plastic rolls are among the main exported commodities to Tajikistan, he added.

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Iraq President, Iran Envoy Discuss Ways to Boost Ties

reporter 1222 — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 08:08:51 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – President of Iraq Barham Salih and Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi discussed ways to promote cooperation between the two neighbors in various fields.

In the Saturday meeting in Baghdad, Salih and Masjedi discussed the latest political developments in the region, with both stressing the need for commitment to dialogue and plans to strengthen regional peace and security, the Iraqi president’s office said in a statement.

They also emphasized the necessity of supporting the Iraqi government’s efforts to protect diplomatic delegations and enforce the law.

The two sides agreed in the meeting that stability in Iraq and settlement of the regional crises would pave the way for the promotion of mutual cooperation.

In July, Masjedi said the Islamic Republic and neighboring Iraq have plans to boost relations in all arenas, days before Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi visited Tehran.

In his trip to Iran, Kadhimi met senior authorities, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

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Iran Voices Support for Unity, Stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina

reporter 1222 — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 04:16:53 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran’s ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina said Tehran has always supported the stability, unity, and peaceful coexistence of all ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as its development.

Reza Qelich-Khan made the remarks in a meeting on Monday with Chief of the Presidential Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Jafarovic where the former handed over his credentials to Jafarovic, iranpress.com reported.

The Iranian diplomat said during the past three decades, the Iranian government and people have always stood by the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and supported the stability, unity and peaceful coexistence of all ethnic groups in that country as well as its development.

Appreciating Iran’s support for the people and country of Bosnia and Herzegovina since the beginning of its independence in 1992, Jafarovic said, “Iran is a great and important country and relations between the two countries have always been at a good level.”

He stressed that Sarajevo welcomes promotion of political, economic, and cultural relations with Tehran.

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Iran, Azerbaijan Talk Online on Communications, Navigation

reporter 1222 — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 10:51:15 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Officials from Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan attended an online meeting on shipping industry and communications.

The Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies held the meeting on Monday.

Participants in the webinar discussed various issues relating to shipping industry, communications, and advanced technologies.

Iran’s Ambassador to Baku Seyed Abbas Mousavi delivered a speech to the opening of the online meeting.

In May, senior presidential officials from Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan weighed plans to promote the economic ties between the two neighbors regardless of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The Iranian and Azeri top officials maintain that closer Tehran-Baku relationship is beneficial not only to both nations but also to the region.

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Customs Head: Iran to Increase Trade with Turkey

reporter 1222 — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 05:17:32 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Tehran is ready to increase trade exchanges with Ankara, Head of Iran Customs Administration Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi said on Sunday.

Mir-Ashrafi made the remarks via a videoconference with Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Customs and Trade Riza Tuna Turagay, reported Fars News Agency.

He expressed readiness for holding a meeting on Bazargan-Gor Bolag border and implementing the pilot plan of the technical final project for exchanging customs information.

The official added that Iran’s customs also suggested pursuit of the possibility of electronic inquiry of the certificate of origin from the relevant Turkish officials.

Mir-Ashrafi noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration is ready to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on implementing the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) and green corridor.

He announced an increase in the capacity of accepting trucks at Gor Bolag Custom and Esendere border in Turkey.

“The Turkish side has started accepting 120 people per day in the Esendere border since August 14,” Mir-Ashrafi noted.

He added that 110 trucks move toward Turkey per day and 50 others move toward Iran.

The governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) said in 2019 that the use of local currencies in bilateral trade with Turkey would increase thanks to new agreements reached on the sidelines of a high-profile meeting between presidents of the two countries.

Abdolnaser Hemmati said in September 2019, after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara that the two had agreed to increase the use of Iran’s rial and Turkey’s lira in trade between the neighbors.

He said in a post on his Instagram page that the two countries’ central banks would seek to go beyond the current size of trade payments settled in local currencies, which he said is around 34 percent of their total exchanges.

The announcement comes amid Iran’s efforts to use payment mechanisms that could protect trade with other countries from US sanctions.

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Tehran, Baku Discuss Cooperation in Electricity

reporter 1222 — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 04:24:25 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The Joint Technical Commission of Tehran and Baku reviewed the two countries’ cooperation in the field of electricity in a virtual meeting.

The two sides discussed the construction of ‘Khoda-Afarin’ and ‘Qiz-Qala’si dams by the two countries on Aras River, reported Fars News Agency.

The budget for the dams and equipment was also reviewed.

The agreement on the construction of Khoda-Afarin and Qiz-Qala’si dams and power plants was signed by Azerbaijan and Iran in Tehran in 2016 and approved by the two countries’ parliaments.

In late December, 2019, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said his country has already established transmission lines with Russia and Iran, adding that Baku is eyeing for further trilateral energy cooperation in an upcoming meeting of the energy ministers of the three countries.

In an interview with Russia-24 TV Network on December 30, 2019, Aliyev said that the Azerbaijan-Russia-Iran electricity corridor has vast potentials for energy cooperation among the three neighbors.

“Azerbaijan and Russia cooperate in emergency electric power supply… and we constructed new electricity transmission lines with Iran,” he noted, adding, “Therefore, the electricity power energy is active among Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia.”

Aliyev added that the countries’ energy ministers will discuss collaboration in the field, highlighting that Baku is currently exporting electricity to Georgia, Turkey and the European states.

Azerbaijan has also established a new line for transferring electricity with Iran. Therefore, the electricity corridor is currently in operation among Iran, Russia and Turkey, he said.

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Iranian, Swiss Diplomats Talk in Tehran

reporter 1222 — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 12:58:45 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his visiting Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis held meetings in Tehran on Monday.

Zarif and the senior Swiss diplomat, who has traveled to Iran to mark the 100th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, held one-on-one negotiations before a meeting of delegations.

Apart from marking the longevity of the bilateral ties, the visit has also featured discussion over regional and international matters as well as expansion of mutual relations, Press TV reported.

Switzerland, which also represents the United States’ interests in Iran, hosts a so-called humanitarian channel, known as the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA), which is meant to help Tehran avoid American sanctions. According to some reports, Cassis’ stay was also expected to help expand the channel.

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Swiss Diplomat Lauds Old Ties with Iran

reporter 1222 — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 03:53:33 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Visiting Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on Sunday said Iran and Switzerland have promoted mutual respect over the past 100 years.

Cassis, currently in Iran on a three-day visit which started from the ancient city of Isfahan on Saturday, made the remarks in a ceremony to celebrate the centenary of Switzerland’s diplomatic presence in Iran, Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.

Switzerland have also been representing the US interest section in Iran since 1979, when Iran-US diplomatic ties were cut.

Addressing the ceremony, Cassis said, “Switzerland has maintained consular services with the Islamic Republic of Iran and delivered messages quickly and reliably in the past forty years. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your trust in Switzerland during these years.”

He noted that friendly and amicable ties between Switzerland and Iran date back to 1873 when the two countries signed an alliance of friendship and trade with each other.

“Switzerland was one of the first European countries that started trade ties with Iran, while the people and governments of the two countries already had a lot of respect for each other,” said the Swiss foreign minister.

He added that it took decades for official diplomatic relations to be established between Iran and Switzerland. Switzerland opened its consulate in Tehran on June 28, 1920, he said.

According to the schedule, the top Swiss diplomat is to meet President Hassan Rouhani, his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and other Iranian high-ranking officials Monday.

Swiss parliamentarians who are among Cassis’ entourage, are to hold talks with their Iranian counterparts.

Prior to the Swiss minister’s arrival, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh announced that Cassis and Iranian officials would not discuss Tehran-Washington tensions as the topics of their negotiations would be only about bilateral ties.

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Envoy: Bangladesh, Iran to Ease Connectivity to Diversify Trade

reporter 1222 — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 05:28:49 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Bangladesh and Iran are working on easier connectivity between the two countries to diversify their bilateral trade.

This was announced by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Tehran AFM Gousal Azam Sarker in an exclusive interview with Iran Daily.

He said cooperation in the field of facilitating connectivity between the two Islamic countries is being promoted both in bilateral and multilateral frameworks, such the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, where connectivity, transportation and tourism are important areas.

The ambassador also said the relations between Bangladesh and Iran cover all sectors and areas of cooperation.

“We are in cooperation bilaterally and internationally. Bilaterally, we are collaborating in the sectors of trade, investment, education, sports, culture, tourism and even media as well as in the areas of connectivity and communication. Internationally, we cooperate within regional and international frameworks.”

Expressing dissatisfaction with the current level of trade between the two countries, he said Bangladesh and Iran have great potentials.

The ambassador added that in the area of education, Tehran and Dhaka have some levels of cooperation.

“The Iranian government is generously providing our students with support and opportunities for education. Also, a small number of Iranian students are studying in Bangladesh.”

He said the two countries are also cooperating in the field of cinematography.

Commenting on the 45th National Mourning Day of Bangladesh (commemorated on August 15, 2020 by Bangladesh in different parts of the world), the ambassador said, “On this day, we lost our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

Commemorated annually on August 15, the National Mourning Day of Bangladesh marks the the brutal assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.

The ambassador added Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led Bangladesh to independence and freedom in 1971 by uniting the nation.

“Under our Father of the Nation in the independent state of Bangladesh, we established bilateral relations with most of the countries and also with Iran.”

He said the historical background of ties and traditional bonds between Bangladesh and Iran and the peoples of the two countries goes back to centuries.

“The two countries and their peoples have been interacting and partnering with each other for centuries. We have common cultural roots. Persian language used to be our court language for centuries. Even until the late 19th century, Persian continued to be used for official purposes in Bangladesh and as a formal language of the country and administration.

We still have nearly 6,000 to 7,000 words in common which we use in our daily life. Islam was another important connection between the two peoples, which was propagated in our part of the world in the middle ages.”

He said in the 19^th century, when modern Bengali literature was developed, many poets in Bangladesh wrote under the influence of the Iranian culture and literature.

Over the past years relations between the two countries were expanded, the ambassador added, noting that Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has visited Iran two times and attended international summits here.

Likewise, in 1995, the-then Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani visited Bangladesh, he said.

“There have been many important ministerial- and political-level visits that have helped bring us closer. We also work in close cooperation in the international arena. Both countries continue to support each other in [international] forums and on international issues. We hold similar views on different world problems and issues.”

In addition, he said, Bangladesh and Iran have signed many important bilateral agreements and MoUs with each other.

“We also have important mechanisms of dialogue and discussion. We hold joint economic commission meetings to discuss cooperation and have bilateral political dialogues and discussions. We have a mechanism of foreign office consultations as well as agreements in the areas of culture and education.”

The two countries are keen on expanding and deepening their relations and enhancing their cooperation, he noted.

The ambassador described Iran as a brotherly country, saying, “We are working with our friends in Iran and the country’s government in different sectors and areas. Our private sectors and NGOs are also cooperating with each other and open to continuing their collaborations.”

The two countries seek to expand their relations in the field of investment as well, he stressed.

Azam Sarker added after being appointed as Bangladesh’s ambassador to Iran, he has been working to have close cooperation with related Iranian authorities in the fields of facilitating connectivity and increasing people-to-people contacts.

“We are planning to send a delegation comprising tour operators from Bangladesh to Tehran after the coronavirus situation improves for discussions with their Iranian counterparts and developing tour packages for tourists from both countries.”

Commenting on the translation of an autobiography titled ‘The Unfinished Memories’ by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman into Persian, he said in fact, translating this book into Persian was long overdue.

“Persian is an important international language and Persian speakers and readers know very little about the contribution of our Father of the Nation to our country and nation and also the world.”

Thus, he added, to help Iranian and Persian speakers gain more knowledge about this great leader it is important to publish the Persian translation of this book.

“He was a great leader who gave us freedom and independence. He developed our nation and took it forward. He dreamt of a golden Bangladesh, a developed and a prosperous one.”

The ambassador regretted that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not have time to finish implementing his ideas and policies and fulfilling his dreams, saying, however, his daughter, Sheikh Hasina, who is running the government, is making relentless efforts to develop the country and realize the unimplemented dream of the Father of the Nation.

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