Mr. Ibrahim Yacoubou, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad met Zarif on Monday and they discussed bilateral ties and possibilities of improving relations and trade.
Zarif believed that Africa constituted a priority in Iran’s foreign policy as a continent of unfathomed natural wealth and raw material; “Niger has a population of Muslims and is important for us in terms of West African policy,” he told the meeting. “Iran and Niger have opportunities to work in economic, political, regional, and international issues and Iran hails Niger as a partner in Africa.”
“Holding a joint economic commission would bring an organization to different fields of cooperation including mines, agriculture, energy and development, and banking sectors between Iran and Niger,” Zarif asserted.
Mr. Yacoubou for his part believed that Iran had an important place in the region and as a regional political power, Nigeria welcomes and seeks improving ties with Iran; “opening of Niger’s embassy in Tehran will improve political dialogue with Tehran,” he concluded.
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