Lifting of Iran bans will boost ties with Hungary: VP

Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri says the lifting of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program will prepare the ground for implementation of bilateral agreements with Hungary.

In a meeting with visiting Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán in Tehran on Monday, Jahangiri added that Hungary can improve its cooperation with Iran in different sectors after the removal of sanctions, particularly in oil and petrochemical industries.

He described Hungary as an influential country in the European Union (EU) and said enhanced Tehran-Budapest relations can help the bloc restore its previous position as Iran’s first trade partner.

Jahangiri expressed hope that Western countries and the EU will implement the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of world states in July as soon as possible.

On July 14, Iran and the P5+1 – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany – finalized the text of the agreement over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

Under the JCPOA, limits will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all nuclear-related economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic.

Tehran hopes that “the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors will announce the closure of Iran’s nuclear case in its next meeting,” the Iranian official added.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano will submit his latest report on Iran’s nuclear issue to the agency’s Board of Governors on December 1.

The governing board will review the report within 10-14 days and will probably announce its final decision on December 15.

Hungary keen to boost Iran relations

The Hungarian premier, for his part, stressed the importance of strengthening economic, political and cultural cooperation with Iran.

Orbán said Hungary’s foreign policy is based on the expansion of cordial relations with Iran based on common interests.

He described as wrong certain policies of the EU toward the Middle East and stressed Iran’s strong and leading role in finding solutions to regional crises.

He also hoped that sanctions against Iran would be lifted as soon as possible.

Documents for Iran-Hungary cooperation

In the presence of Jahangiri and Orbán, Iran and Hungary on Monday signed eight documents and memoranda of understanding to improve relations.

According to the documents, Tehran and Budapest will boost their political consultations and promote their cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, tourism as well as cultural, scientific and educational exchanges.  The two sides will also cooperate on health, medicine and communications technology.

Orbán arrived in Tehran on Monday for the first visit to Iran by a Hungarian prime minister in 27 years to hold talks with senior Iranian officials.

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