Iran Keen To Enhance Ties With Neighbors: Minister

Tehran, May 19, IRNA – Iran is keen to enhance relations with its neighboring countries, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi said on Sunday. He made the remarks in a meeting with Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Javanshir Akhundov. President Hassan Rouhaniˈs administration is keen to open a new chapter in Iranˈs relations with neighboring countries, Vaezi added. He underlined that there are good grounds for cooperation between Tehran and Baku in various fields including transit of goods, dam construction, banking and customs affairs. Iran-Azerbaijan Republic railroad can connect Azerbaijan to the Persian Gulf and in the meantime connect Iran to the Central Asia region, the minister asserted. He said that Tehran and Baku enjoy potentials to increase the volume of their trade exchange which now stands at dlrs 500 million. The Azerbaijani envoy, for his part, welcomed expansion of all out ties with Iran particularly between their private sectors. He also referred to the two countries joint commission which is scheduled to hold a meeting in the Iranian month of Mordad (July-August)./end