MADRID The Head of Iran-Spain Friendship Group Alfandro Loreja said Wednesday, ``Iran is regarded highly at the international arena and the trip of Iran's parliamentary delegation to Spain is in line with President Mohammad Khatami's policy of expansion of relations between peoples and governments.'' He told IRNA in Madrid that Spain is looking forward to the trip by the Iranian delegation headed by the Speaker of the Majlis Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri. Loreja also said that the international community lauds and respects the views of President Khatami. He added that Iran occupies a strategic place in the Persian Gulf region and its place in the world history has been proven.

Referring to bilateral relations, Loreja said that the Spanish government is attempting to forge closer ties with Iran, adding that recently the economic ties have been expanded and the volume of bilateral trade is on the rise. He expressed hope that the result of the trip by the Iranian Majlis speaker, to be fruitful for the two countries and lead to better ties.

The Iranian delegation headed by Nateq Nouri was due to arrive in Madrid Wednesday afternoon, at the invitation of the Spanish Parliament Speaker Federico Martinez-Conde. (IRNA)