Iran Urges Stronger Economic Ties with Austria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian president on Monday reiterated that the economic relations between Iran and Austria should flourish, and noted that the unilateral sanctions slapped on Iran by the European Union should not pose an impediment to Tehran-Vienna ties.
“The European Union’s unilateral sanctions should not be an obstacle to the economic relations between the two countries (Iran and Austria),” President Hassan Rouhani said in a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz in Tehran on Monday.
The president denounced the economic sanctions which he said have put the ordinary Iranian people under pressure.
“Such pressures are in fact exerted on the people and patients in a country, and are in contradiction to the human rights norms,” President Rouhani pointed out.
He also pointed to the talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) to resolve the standoff over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program, saying Iran’s situation has now changed compared with the past years.
Rouhani said a lot of countries are currently vying for investment in Iran, noting that the Austrian companies can also take the opportunity to invest in Iran’s market.
Rouhani also emphasized the need for enhancement of all-out ties between Iran and Austria, saying the two nations can capitalize on the history of their close ties to promote cooperation.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran sees no obstacle to the enhancement of ties with Austria,” he noted.
Citing the good cultural relations between the two nations and the presence of highly educated Iranians in Austria, Rouhani underlined that closer academic ties between the two countries’ universities would contribute to the improvement of bilateral relations.
Kurz, for his part, hailed as positive the relations between Tehran and Vienna, adding, “There is great enthusiasm for the expansion of academic and economic cooperation between the two countries.”
“The Austrian administration welcomes the enhancement of ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the visiting minister stated.
Kurz has already held separate meetings with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and the parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, in his visit to Tehran.
