Iran top diplomat kicks off tour of Latin America

A top Iranian diplomat sets out on a three-nation tour of Latin America to discuss mutual cooperation as well as ways of enhancing bilateral ties.

Political, economic and cultural issues will be discussed with the high-ranking officials of the three countries, said Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-e Ravanchi who early Monday left for Latin America on a whistle-stop tour that will take him to Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia.

“Iran attaches special importance to economic cooperation with Latin American countries,” said the senior official.

There exists “enormous potential” for mutual cooperation between the two sides which should be tapped, he added.

The official further highlighted the significance of holding political consultations with Cuba, Venezuela, and Bolivia as members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and added he will also exchange views with officials of the three countries on mutual cooperation at international organizations.

In recent years, Iran has been seeking to enhance its relations and partnerships with Latin American countries within the framework of international organizations such as NAM. Official International Monetary Fund (IMF) statistics show that Tehran’s trade with LatAm nations hits over 3 billion US dollars annually.