Iran, Uruguay share views on international affairs: Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran and Uruguay share views on regional and international developments and can further increase negotiations on such issues.

“Tehran and Montevideo can upgrade their continuous consultations on regional and international developments and issues,” Zarif said in a meeting with Uruguay’s Vice President Raul Sendic Rodriguez in Tehran on Monday.

He added that the removal of banking sanctions on Iran would open an opportunity for the two countries to strengthen their economic cooperation.

Iran and Uruguay have always maintained cordial relations, Zarif said, expressing hope that Rodriguez’s visit to Tehran would prepare the ground for enhanced cooperation in all fields.

The Uruguayan vice president, for his part, said the slum in oil prices was a pre-mediated plan which targeted the economy of independent countries.

Rodriguez said Uruguay supported Iran during years of sanctions and expressed hope that the two countries would take effective steps in line with common interests and expansion of relations following the implementation of Iran's nuclear agreement with world powers. Dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the agreement was reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries last July.

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.

Rodriguez said senior Iranian and Uruguayan officials agreed to hold a meeting of joint economic committee in a bid to define banking strategies and boost cooperation in the sectors of heath, foodstuff, energy and sports.

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.

Earlier on Monday, he sat down with Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. He also participated in joint talks between senior delegations of Iran and Uruguay, co-chaired by him and Jahangiri.

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