Zarif : Iran-Spain Have Political Will To Expand Ties

Tehran, March 3, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that Iran and Spain have political will to expand economic cooperation in different areas. Talking in a joint press conference with his visiting Spanish counterpart José García-Margallo, Zarif said that both countries, as advocates of dialog and a world free from violence would pave the way to confront extremism and radicalism. Pointing to the deep-rooted and old relations between Iran and Spain and the multiple of cultural affinities between the two nations, Zarif said that Iranians and the Spanish people have very good memories of each other. Saying ties between Iran and Spain are based on mutual respect and mutual interest, the foreign minister expressed unhappiness over the serious reduction in trade over the past few years because of the sanctions. However, he stressed, both nations are determined to boost interactions in many areas including economic relations. He further pointed out that the Spanish tourism minister is to imminently visit to Iran and he hoped for developing Iran-Spain tourism cooperation by a joint planning during his visit./end