TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking in Tehran, Qiafeh highlighted that although Iran has 34 regional chambers, 39 joint chambers with other countries, and over 110,000 members representing small, medium, and large enterprises, trade with Romania remains modest. According to the latest figures, trade between Iran and Romania stands at $348 million—an amount Qiafeh described as “insignificant” considering the combined GDP of over $700 billion between the two countries.

He emphasized that the two economies are complementary, but cooperation has been limited mostly to sectors such as petrochemicals, construction materials (from Iran), and car parts, corn, and wheat (from Romania). He urged expansion into other high-potential sectors, citing Romania’s strengths in agriculture, automotive manufacturing (including the well-known Dacia brand), and oil and gas equipment.

Qiafeh also pointed out logistical and tariff-related barriers hindering trade, suggesting that infrastructure such as the Port of Constanța—a key transit route linking the Indian Ocean to the Black Sea—could play a vital role in resolving some of these challenges.

Iran, he said, brings key advantages to the table, including rich resources in oil, gas, and ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Despite decades of sanctions, Iran has achieved global recognition in advanced technologies, ranking fifth worldwide in nanotechnology and making notable progress in pharmaceuticals.

To unlock the full potential of bilateral ties, Qiafeh proposed forming joint banking working groups and ensuring the implementation of previously signed agreements. He also advocated for a five-year roadmap to increase annual trade volume to $1 billion, suggesting regular participation in each other’s trade exhibitions as a way to build trust and partnerships.

Echoing these sentiments, Gogulescu welcomed the dialogue and provided historical context, noting that in 2016, trade between the two nations exceeded $400 million before declining due to various factors. He called on both chambers to reinvigorate ties by promoting mutual participation in trade shows and building stronger relationships among private sector players.

He referenced a memorandum of understanding signed in 2000 and a 2023 agreement between the Chamber of Commerce of Prahova Province—which he chairs—and the Chamber of Commerce of Hamedan, Iran. Under this agreement, a 30-member Iranian delegation from Hamedan is set to visit Romania in June 2025, where they will host an exhibition showcasing Iranian handicrafts, jewelry, and porcelain.

Gogulescu also underscored the historical and industrial significance of Prahova, home to the world’s first oil refinery and three of Romania’s four refineries. He added that the province offers unique tourism opportunities, especially in mountainous regions.

Both officials concluded by affirming that chambers of commerce in Iran and Romania can and should play a leading role in driving economic cooperation forward.

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Samad Hassanzadeh made the remarks in a meeting with the Romanian Ambassador to Tehran Mirla Carmen Greco on Sunday.

Criticizing the 20-year gap in holding the two countries’ Joint Economic Committee meeting, Hassanzadeh said: “The development of relations with Romania, especially in the machinery industries, is the priority of the ICCIMA.”

“We expect the committee meeting to be held in Tehran as soon as possible. Because holding joint committee meeting and seminars between the two countries has a noticeable effect on the level of the countries’ economic relations,” he added.

The Romanian envoy for her part said the activities of the ICCIMA and the private sector play a significant role in increasing the level of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Referring to the long history of economic cooperation between Iran and Romania and the common fields of cooperation between the two countries, she added: “The Romanian embassy in Iran has focused on facilitating economic relations between the businessmen of the two countries. Many businessmen in Romania are interested in cooperating more with Iran’s private sector.”

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Team Melli are in Group B along with Romania, Kazakhstan and New Zealand.

Group A consists of China, Germany, Malta and South Africa.

The Persians are scheduled to play New Zealand and Kazakhstan on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

The tournament is being held in Berlin, Germany from May 5 to 7.

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During a meeting in Tehran on Sunday, the officials exchanged views in order to promote scientific, academic, and student interactions, as well as mutual cooperation, to introduce the study capacities in Iranian and Romanian universities, and award scholarships to students.

Evaluating the universities of the two countries and launching study opportunities for students were other topics of the meeting.

Dadashpour expressed readiness to enhance cooperation regarding the exchange of professors and students.

“Considering the 120-year relationship between the two countries, the most important request of Romania from is more cooperation between the universities of the two countries, exchange of students, professors and cultural exchanges,” Carmen Greco said.

Due to the fact that Romanian universities have suitable conditions and standards for foreign students, in the evaluation of universities, which is done every year by the Ministry of Science of Iran, more Romanian universities should be evaluated, she added.

Iranian universities making progress

Most recently, fifteen universities from Iran have been listed among the best institutions worldwide, by the U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings 2022.

The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Graduate Employability Rankings 2022 list has been released, which included three Iranian universities out of a total of 550 institutes worldwide that highlighted graduate employment processes.

Some 41 Iranian universities in engineering sciences and 12 universities in computer sciences have made a place among the top 1,188 universities in the world with the announcement of Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 by subject.

It also has introduced 59 Iranian universities among the top institutions in World University Rankings 2022.

The THE Education Young University Rankings 2021 listed 26 Iranian institutions among the world’s best universities that are 50 years old or younger.

Moreover, some 34 Iranian universities and institutions were listed among the top 1,000 in the world, according to Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2021.

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All the children are members of various branches of the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) across Iran, the institute announced on Sunday.

Kowsar Rezai, Ali Tamoradi, Maryam Yazdani, Danial Rezai and Reyhaneh Alizadeh received gold medals.

Anida Heidari, Diana Veisi, Reza Geravandi, Melika Amjadian, Kiarash Samimitabar, Ailin Saripur and Amir-Hossein Karimi won silver medals.

The competition also awarded honorable mentions to Mohammadreza Masudinia, Parnaz Gudarzi, Nahal Dideban, Nazanin Sadati, Ava Jelviani, Anahid Amuzesh and Hasti Zanganeh.

Zohreh Shamlufard, an IIDCYA worker at the Department for International Affairs, was also honored for the efforts she made to send the children’s works to the competition.

“Your Hometown/City/Village” and “Flowers” were the themes of the competition.

Romania’s Cultural Association of Arts and the organizers of the contest held an exhibition of winning works and a selection of submissions at the central library of Piatra-Neamt.

The exhibition brought together artistic creations from children and young people aged 5-19, who were carefully selected from over 1600 submissions received from 41 schools, high schools and clubs in 19 countries, including Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Iran and the UK.

School 1955 in Russia, Simply Art in Hong Kong and Bannadokmai Art School in Thailand were the winners of the grand prizes of the contest.

Fifteen schools were awarded gold medals, and fourteen schools were nominated for a silver medal for their collections of exceptional works submitted to the competition. All participating schools and clubs also received participation diplomas.

Also, 21 students won the Grand Prize for Individual Work for the original and creative works sent to the competition.

In addition, 93 students were awarded gold medals, and another 57 children received silver medals for their outstanding paintings.

Photo: A painting by the 11-year-old boy Ali Tamoradi from the IIDCYA branch in Baghmalek, Khuzestan Province, won a gold medal at the 4th Piatra Neamt Creative International Art Competition for Children in Romania.  

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Following the baseless accusations against Iran by the Romanian government with regard to an attack on an Israeli operated tanker in the Sea of Oman, the ambassador of Romania in Tehran was summoned to the General Directorate of Mediterranean and Eastern Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the summoning of the ambassador, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and Director General of the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, referring to the statement of the Romanian Foreign Ministry, considered the false accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran to be illegal and unacceptable. It was requested to express the level of dissatisfaction and strong protest of Iran in this regard to the officials of his respective country.

Referring to the goal of some countries to create insecurity and turmoil in the international environment by organizing such actions and the need to be aware of the conspiracy of these countries, Iran’s principled policy on the importance of providing maritime security in the Persian Gulf region, the Sea of Oman and international waters were emphasized.

During the summoning, the Romanian ambassador emphasized that the points raised in the meeting and the level of Iran’s protests will be immediately reflected in Bucharest.

In the attack on the tanker on Thursday, a Romanian citizen was killed. Iran has denied any involvement in the incident.

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“On 11 May, Romanian Ambassador to Russia, Cristian Istrate, was invited to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a note from the ministry declaring Captain [G.] Iliescu, aide to military attaché at the Romanian Embassy, persona non grata,” the Russian ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

It added that the Romanian officer had been ordered to leave the country within 72 hours.

The statement explained that the measure was taken in response to a similar move by Romania on April 26, when the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest declared an aide to the Russian military attaché in the country, Alexey Grishaev, persona non grata.

The Romanian ministry claimed that Grishaev’s actions “contravene the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” but failed to specify what sort of activity had been considered as breaching the convention.

Moscow at the time censured the expulsion as an “unfriendly move” and vowed to reciprocate the measure.

Over the past weeks, tensions had increased between Western countries and Russia over the Ukrainian conflict.

Russia expelled seven diplomats from Western-aligned countries in Eastern Europe late last month in retaliation for similar moves against Russian diplomats.

Meanwhile, Moscow is drawing up a list of governments deemed “unfriendly” to the Russian state, following a decree by President Vladimir Putin to clearly identify and take countermeasures against hostile countries.

Putin’s order put a limit on the number of the staff who can work at foreign diplomatic missions and agencies.

The order also authorizes Moscow to restrict or ban employment contracts with “state bodies and state institutions of foreign states committing unfriendly acts against the Russian Federation.”

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – Head of Iran-Romania Parliamentary Friendship Group Mohammad Mehdi Mofatteh says Majlis approach is to boost economic cooperation with friendly countries like Romania and supports any cooperation on course to developing bilateral cooperation.

Mofatteh on Monday met Romanian Ambassador to Tehran Adrian Kozjacski and during the meeting, both explored ways for boosting cooperation.

In the meeting, Mofatteh pointed to the old and historic relation of Iran and Romania and said Majlis supports boosting cooperation with neighboring and friendly countries especially Romania. He reiterated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has made its relations with friendly countries based on mutual respect and this will be the same regarding ties with Romania.

He then pointed to the capabilities and capacities of both countries, saying that parliamentarian cooperation and exchanges of delegations in the level of the parliamentary friendship group as well as specialized commissions of parliaments of both countries are considered strong backing for bilateral relation.

Mofatteh then pointed to the U.S. and Zionist regime hostile approaches against Iran, saying that experiences from the eight-year imposed Iraq war and sanctions imposed by the Western countries have taught Iranians to rely on their domestic capabilities for defending their land and providing security.

The Majlis lawmaker also pointed to the assassination of Iranian scientist and accounted Zionist regime for this horrible crime and urged European countries to condemn it.

Kozjacski, for his part, termed Iran-Romania relation an old and friendly one, saying that so far there has been no dark point in the bilateral relation and this amicable relation provides a bright outlook for future interactions between the two nations and governments.

He further said that continuation of economic cooperation between both countries in the post-JCPOA era indicates the deep relation between both countries without considering any event happening in the international scene.

Kozjacski noted that parliaments of both countries are symbols of national ideals of their own people and parliament plays a key role in bolstering bilateral ties.

He also condemned the assassination of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

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