Zarif Wraps Up Asian Tour in Malaysia

EghtesadOnline: Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and held talks with his counterpart, Saifuddin Abdullah, on Thursday morning during the last leg of his East Asian tour.

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31 August 2019

He paid a courtesy call to Mahathir at his office in the administrative capital of Putrajaya where he was warmly welcomed.

"We discussed several issues of mutual interest as well as improving bilateral ties between our two countries," Mahathir said on Twitter.

According to Financial Tribune, Zarif expressed "deep respect" for Mahathir "for the role he played in developing the Muslim world" and described his meeting as "very good and friendly".

"We talked on Muslim world issues, sanctions and the United States' illegal measures," he said after the meeting, ISNA reported.

The US has unilaterally pulled out of the 2015 internationally-brokered nuclear deal and imposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran.

According to Zarif, the two sides also discussed plans that are to be implemented jointly by the two countries, including the creation of a high commission on bilateral ties at the foreign ministers’ level.

The commission will make arrangements for Mahathir’s future trip to Iran.

Zarif had discussed a range of topics with his Malaysian counterpart earlier in the day, such as a joint commission on economic ties, banking and trade relations, cooperation with international bodies, problems of Iranian expats residing in Malaysia, the latest developments related to Iran's nuclear deal, Muslim world problems and major regional and international issues.