Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday expressed Tehran’s willingness to boost its relations with all Latin American countries, particularly with Brazil.

Rouhani made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Tehran on Sunday.

He said Iran has always welcomed the development and deepening of its cooperation and good relations with Latin American countries, and attaches special significance to the promotion of amicable ties with Brazil as an outstanding country in South America.

Rouhani said Brazil enjoys a progressive economy, highlighting the important role Brazil has in maintaining stability and security in Latin America.

He also urged Tehran and Brasilia to make the utmost use of their capabilities for enhancing interaction, given the two capitals’ various advancements in the fields of industry, technology, and science.

The Iranian president also pointed to the new opportunities created in Iran after the recent nuclear conclusion, saying, “Brazilian investors can take advantage of this opportunity for their stronger presence in Iran and participation in major projects,” Tasnim reported.

President Rouhani also said Iran and Brazil share common stances on global issues.

“The points of view of Iran and those of Brazil on political and international issues are close,” Rouhani asserted.

Vieira, for his part, said his country is determined to have closer and stronger relations with Iran in economic and political fields, adding that the two sides have the potential to play complementary roles for each other’s economy.

He further hailed Iran’s effective role in creating balance and stability in the region, saying Brasilia has always supported and acknowledged Tehran’s positive and historical engagement in regional and international developments.

Vieira also delivered a letter of invitation by Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff to president Rouhani to pay an official visit to the South American country.

-------- Zarif says Iran deal was victory of diplomacy over force

Earlier in the day, Brazil’s Vieira and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif held a joint press conference, where Zarif said the July 14 nuclear agreement between Iran and the 5+1 group of countries was the victory of diplomacy over force.

The Iranian diplomat said the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was also the victory of rights over baseless claims.

Iran and Brazil are two developing countries that have made great attempts in such areas as peaceful nuclear energy, Zarif said, adding that Brazil has played a “very active” role regarding the Iranian nuclear issue.

The Iranian foreign minister said Tehran and Brasilia have a lot in common, adding that Iran and Brazil are working to expand cooperation in various fields, Press TV reported.

“Grounds are prepared for boosting bilateral ties given the shared grounds between the two countries,” Zarif stated, adding that the two sides intend to exchange trade and economic delegations.

The Brazilian foreign minister, for his part, said Brazil and Iran established their diplomatic relations more than a century ago and are “very good” partners.

“We have had very important bilateral relations ever since their establishment and we came here with a very specific goal to enhance and deepen our bilateral relations and to bring them to even higher levels,” Vieira added.

He also expressed his country’s willingness to improve cooperation with Iran through exchange of visits between the two countries’ ministers.

“The exchange of high-level ministerial visits is a very clear evidence of the importance that the two countries attach to each other and to the bilateral relations,” the Brazilian minister noted.

He praised the Vienna nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group as “historic and landmark,” emphasizing that JCPOA represents the victory of diplomacy and political dialog.

------------- No justification for JCPOA violation

In response to a question about a future decision that the U.S. Congress and Senate are to make on JCPOA, Zarif said there is no justification for the violation of the agreement.

“We had announced since the very beginning that we hold the government of the Unites States of America responsible for the implementation of JCPOA and any move by [U.S.] Congress in contradiction to JCPOA should be blocked by U.S. government. Otherwise, it will be a breach of JCPOA,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

Israel and certain warmongering groups in the U.S. have been against any agreement between Iran and the 5+1 group, the Iranian foreign minister stated, adding that they have failed to reach their objective of blocking an agreement.

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized that future U.S. administrations are also duty-bound to implement the Vienna agreement.

---------- Tehran is determined to help fight against terrorism: Zarif

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran is ready to take part in all international efforts to fight terrorism in the region, calling for the international community to play a more effective role in this regard.

Zarif regretted that double-standard policies have barred the international community from playing its part in tackling terrorism.

The Brazilian minister also said his country has always supported measures taken to fight terrorism, adding that military approaches would fail to solve the regional crises.

He added that Brazil believes diplomacy is the key to a resolution of regional problems.

------ Iran nuclear talks experience a model for all

Iran’s experience in the nuclear talks gives a good model for all countries to follow in replacing political approaches for conflict and aggression in order to reduce threats and respect the legal rights of independent countries, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said in a meeting with Vieira on Sunday evening.

He also thanked Brazil for its helpful stance during the nuclear talks and said, “Iran gives special priority to comprehensive relations with countries that did not cooperate with the West during the time that unjust, illegal sanctions were in place against the Islamic Republic.”


MD/S