Iran, Armenia should make efforts to broaden economic ties: FM Zarif
EghtesadOnline: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is on an official visit to Armenia, has hailed growing relations between the two countries, saying Tehran and Yerevan should work to broaden their cooperation in the economic sector.
Zarif, who arrived in Yerevan at the head of a politico-economic delegation on Tuesday, discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and international developments with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian.
According to PressTV, he told reporters after the meeting with Nalbandian that Iran and Armenia enjoy close neighborly relations, calling for further enhancement of political and economic relations between the two nations.
The top diplomat also took part in Armenia-Iran Business Forum, where he praised the “very close and growing relations” between the two countries and said there was no obstacle in the way of improving mutual ties.
He further said there is ample ground for cooperation between the private sectors of both sides, stressing that Tehran and Yerevan need to benefit from their free trade zones and bolster their economic ties.
The economic forum was attended by tradesmen and entrepreneurs from the two countries.
Iran and Armenia have been recently intensifying efforts to promote their mutual relations.
The two countries announced in early August that they had lifted their visa regime to enable their citizens to freely commute between the two countries.
Iran is currently exporting natural gas to Armenia and is in return importing electricity from the country to support demand in its northern provinces.
Iran reportedly exports nearly one million cubic meters of natural gas to Armenia per day. Officials in Tehran had previously said that the volume could increase to as high as six million cubic meters per day.