Spain keen on forging closer ties with Rohani administration

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says Madrid is ready to cooperate with the new Iranian administration to further expand mutual ties.

In a message to Rohani, the Spanish premier touched upon Tehran-Madrid age-old relations, saying he was confident that the ties will further expand during the tenure of President Hassan Rohani.

Rajoy’s congratulatory message was submitted to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Western European Affairs Abolqasem Delfi by Spanish Ambassador to Tehran Pedro Antonio Villena Perez in a meeting on Wednesday.

Rohani took the oath of office on August 4, one day after being endorsed by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Delegations from over 50 countries attended Rohani’s swearing-in ceremony. Among the foreign dignitaries present were 10 presidents, six vice-presidents, two prime ministers and eight parliament speakers as well as several prominent former officials.

Rohani won Iran’s presidential election with 50.7 percent of a total of over 36 million ballots counted. Voter turnout was 72.7 percent.

On Tuesday, Rohani held his first press conference after taking office.