Level of trade relations with Italy above normal

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the level of Iran’s trade with Italy is “above normal” and the two countries are planning balanced and long-term bilateral economic relations.

Zarif made the remarks in Tehran in a Tuesday meeting with his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni, adding that Iran’s foreign policy is geared towards strengthening ties with neighboring and regional countries and joining efforts to settle crises and establish security and stability.

“Instability, insecurity, terrorism and extremism are against the interests of all regional countries,” Zarif further said.

Gentiloni, who has arrived along with the Italian minister of economic development and a group of high-ranking directors of Italian state-run and private companies also expressed Italy’s resolve to elevate the level of contacts between the two countries based on the new round of cooperation. He also expressed hope that Iran’s recent nuclear agreement with P5+1, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), would prove to be a successful model in the settlement of disputed issues.

The two ministers also discussed issues such as exchanging parliamentary and judiciary delegations, cooperation in the fields of education, and combating narcotics trafficking and organized crimes.