Ebrahim Rahimpour, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs, pointed to FM Zarif’s third visit to India asserting “Iran has frequently attended meetings of Heart of Asia Conference and a significant number of state and private sector officials are accompanying Zarif in his visit to India, China and Japan who mainly aim to develop Iran’s economic relations with these Asian countries.”
“China marks a great power and Chinese were Iran’s primary trade partners during sanction years,” stressed the official adding that Iran will never leave China alone.
He referred to the rise in Iran-India oil transactions underlining “Indians have undertaken developmental plans in Iran’s Chabahar free trade zone and they could take the opportunity to use the corridor for transit purposes.”
Rahimpour also voiced optimism that banking relations between Iran and India will be deepened during Zarif’s stay as well as that earlier agreements between the two countries will become finalized.
On China’s stance towards US extension of Iran’s bans, the Iranian deputy foreign minister said “other 5+1 members are against violation of JCPOA on the part of America as China has complained about president-elect Trump’s 10-minute telephone call with Taiwan's leadership.”
“Iran enjoys several continuities with China and world powers consider common interests as top priorities,” said Rahimpour stressing that a large conference will open in Beijing during Zarif’s visit to China giving the chance to Iranian and Chinese trade officials to conduct negotiations.”
Also, Mohammad Javad Jamali, Member of Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, touched upon Iranian foreign minister’s visit to a number of East Asian countries saying “given America’s unilateralism, Iran and countries like China, India and Russia are seeking new venues to strengthen regional cooperation and are looking for greater coordination in order to have a say in new and international ties as regard components of population, wealth and size.”
“Similar trips mark the right path towards greater concentration on East Asia since we share similarities and common interests with those states, especially India with which we hold numerous cultural commonalities.”
On Iran’s role in the Heart of Asia Conference, Jamali explained “we hold common ties with India and Indians are seeking to reach the Central Asia through Iran.”
“Given that Iran remains as a secure country, Indians pay a great deal of attention to Iran as well as that we could take advantage of India’s technological capacities,” concluded the official.
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