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Iran resolute to enhance all-out ties with neighbors: Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic is determined to develop relations with all neighboring states, including Turkmenistan, regarding matters of mutual interest.

“There is no obstacle in the way of expanding relations between the two countries and it is necessary for these ties to be improved in all areas,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Tehran on Saturday.

The Iranian president stressed the importance of immediate implementation of the agreements signed between the two countries during his visit to Ashgabat in March to serve both nations’ interests.

During Rouhani’s visit to Turkmenistan in late March, high-level delegates from the two sides signed 13 memoranda of understanding in the presence of the two countries’ presidents.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) shakes hands with Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Tehran on May 12, 2018. (Photo by president.ir)

Rouhani further called for implementing agreements in the sectors of energy swap, electricity transfer, transit and trade, and said Iranian companies were ready to provide Turkmenistan with technical and engineering services.

He invited his Turkmen counterpart to pay a visit to Iran and said, “The Iranian government is determined to expand cordial and developed relations with Turkmenistan in all fields.”

Meredov, for his part, submitted a written message from the Turkmen president to Rouhani and called for signing long-term agreements with Tehran in all sectors.

No limit to enhanced Tehran-Ashgabat ties: Zarif

In a meeting with Meredov, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif welcomed the development of political, economic and cultural cooperation with Turkmenistan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) shakes hands with his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov in Tehran on May 12, 2018. (Photo by Tasnim news agency)

“We have no limits in the way of boosting cooperation and are ready to expand and develop mutual relations with the neighboring country, Turkmenistan,” Zarif said.

The top Turkmen diplomat, for his part, expressed his country’s readiness to develop ties with Iran in different fields.

Sri Lanka president due in Tehran

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena plans to visit Tehran on Sunday at the official invitation of his Iranian counterpart.

Sirisena will hold talks with President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The two sides are scheduled to sign several agreements of cooperation.

Sirisena’s office said in an official statement on Saturday that his two-day visit was aimed at improving trade relations and securing investment from Iran.

According to the statement, the Iranian and Sri Lankan presidents will hold talks on ways to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector.

They will sign a memorandum of understanding on “further strengthening the economic and trade ties between the two countries,” it added.

It noted that the Sri Lankan president will also attend a special investment and trade forum organized by Iran’s Chamber of Commerce.

The visit comes as several countries are making efforts to salvage a key nuclear agreement signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015 after President Donald Trump decided to pull the US out of the accord.

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