Iran calls for strong economic ties with Uzbekistan

Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber has underlined the need for strengthened relations with Uzbekistan, saying political interactions remain stable with strong economic support.

Mokhber made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday with Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov.

Referring to the government’s policy of reaching out to neighboring countries, he said that Iran and Uzbekistan can cooperate on different industrial, energy, electricity, transportation and knowledge-based areas.

He underlined that a preferential trade agreement can help the expansion of relations between the two countries.

The Iranian vice president also called for using national currencies in financial and banking settlements.

In the meantime, the Uzbek minister referred to an earlier meeting between the presidents of the two countries, noting that the two presidents have underlined the need for increasing the volume of bilateral trade from the current $500 million to $1 billion and then to $2 billion in the near future.