Iranian, Malaysian FMs Weigh Plans to Cement Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian and Malaysian top diplomats at a meeting in Tehran explored avenues for the expansion of relations considering the growing international interest in cooperation with Iran in the post-sanctions era.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss ways to broaden and diversify the relations between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur.
Iran sees no limitation to closer cooperation with Malaysia, Zarif underlined, adding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), has provided an opportunity for other countries to forge stronger economic and trade ties with Iran.
He also noted that Tehran and Kuala Lumpur can promote cooperation in tourism, trade, energy, gas and petrochemical industry, and banking.
The visiting Malaysian minister, for his part, pointed to the good interaction between the two countries in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), saying there are good grounds for closer political and economic ties.
Known as two influential Muslim countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Iran and Malaysia had maintained amicable relations even at the time of international sanctions against Tehran before the JCPOA.