Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in the Algerian capital on Tuesday and held talks with a number of senior officials including Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and his counterpart Ramtane Lamamra.
In a Wednesday meeting with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Zarif maintained that the two sides have come to an agreement on expanding strategic cooperation and holding preparatory meetings of the Joint Iran-Algeria Higher Committee.
“This meeting was a good opportunity to hear Bouteflika’s views on various issues such as Iran nuclear negotiations,” he said.
Zarif stressed that Iran and Algeria share common positions on the rights of developing countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and expressed his appreciation for Algeria’s supportive stance on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
“Iran and Algeria also share common views on regional and international developments and both emphasize the need for a political solution free from foreign interference to end the conflicts and bloodshed in Syria and Yemen,” said Zarif.
Zarif arrived in the Algerian capital on Tuesday on the second leg of a two-nation trip after visiting Tunisia.
Also in a Tuesday meeting between Zarif and Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, the two senior diplomats discussed mutual relations and the latest developments in the region.