Iran won’t forget sanctions era allies: First VP

Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri reiterates the country’s foreign policy on the expansion of ties with the international community, saying Iran will never forget its allies during years of sanctions.

“South America and important countries in this region, including Uruguay, have always been among the Islamic Republic of Iran’s friends and the Iranian government and nation have always respected nations in this region,” Jahangiri said during joint talks between senior delegations of Iran and Uruguay, co-chaired by him and Uruguay’s Vice President Raul Sendic Rodriguez in Tehran on Monday.

He expressed hope the current visit by Uruguay’s vice president to Tehran would lead to stronger mutual relations.

He added that the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries last July, proved the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic capacity to solve issues and clear misunderstandings with international community.

The JCPOA created a “new opportunity” for Iran and the South American countries, particularly Uruguay, to improve their trade and economic relations.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA on January 16. The two sides signed the agreement on July 14, 2015 following two and a half years of intensive talks.

Under the JCPOA, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US would be lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

Jahangiri said Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum is ready to take steps to resume the sale of oil and petrochemical products to Uruguay, but the Iranian and Uruguayan governments should provide the required banking facilities and support trade relations.

The Iranian veep also expressed the country’s readiness to transfer its experience and know-how to Uruguay in the sectors of trade, economy, the pharmaceutical industry, nano-technology, mines and construction of dams and power plants.

The Uruguay vice president, for his part, said his country has always maintained cordial relations with Iran and is ready to take major steps to further improve trade and economic cooperation now that the sanctions have been lifted on Iran.

Rodriguez emphasized that Tehran and Montevideo should proceed with political talks to expand relations with more coordinated stances.

The Uruguay’s veep is in Tehran at the head of an economic and trade delegation on an official visit to hold talks with Iranian officials on ways to strengthen trade and economic cooperation.

He plans to hold talks with President Hassan Rouhani; Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani; Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif; Minister of Agriculture Mahmoud Hojjati; Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh and Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk