Tsipras who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, several other high-ranking government officials and 50 Greek industrialists and businessmen in a meeting with Rasoul Zargarpour, the Governor of Isfahan Province, said he had chosen to visit Isfahan before Tehran because the city’s historical legacy is the center of attention in the world.
During his two-day visit in Iran, Tsipras is set to sign deals on trade, finance, tourism and cultural relations, as well as housing and road construction, agriculture and pharmaceutical industry.
“We are resolutely set on strengthening political and economic ties with Iran. We have had deep cultural ties in the course of history and are determined to continue the trend,” he said.
The Greek prime minister noted the many challenges his country is currently going through, saying “we are making every effort to face the challenges with courage and resolve them.”
Zargarpour, for his part, maintained that over 80 percent of world’s high-ranking officials choose Isfahan for their destination after Tehran, saying “we will make sure they will have a good time here and achieve good results from the trip.”
The Greek delegation also paid a visit to Naqsh-e Jahan Square, an important historical site and one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The square is surrounded by buildings from the Safavid era.
Iran's ambassador to Greece, Majid Motallebi Shabestari, on Friday said in an interview with ANA-MPA that Tsipras' visit to Tehran on Feb. 7-8 will be a milestone for the two countries' bilateral relations.
He highlighted that the deliberations and the exchange of views between senior Iranian and Greek officials on political issues, regional crises and international issues can have beneficial effects for the international peace and safety.
He also underlined the strategic position of Greece as a "gateway to the Balkans and Eastern Europe the fact that is close to the Middle East, it is a member of NATO, of EU and of the eurozone.
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