TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that Iran-Pakistan relations are “strategic,” describing ties “growing.”

During a meeting with Noor Muhammad Jadmani, the outgoing Pakistani ambassador to Tehran, Zarif highlighted that there are capacities in the two countries to expand ties, expressing hope that banking interaction between the two countries would be facilitated.

He also noted that there is no restriction on Iran-Pakistan friendly relations.

Zarif evaluated the outgoing Pakistani official as “positive” during his Iranian mission.

Jadmani, also for his part, expressed hope that consultation between the two countries officials would facilitate interaction in banking areas.

Zarif calls Belarus approach in time of sanctions ‘constructive’

In a separate meeting with Victor Rybak, the outgoing Belarusian ambassador to Tehran on Monday, the Iranian foreign minister hailed Belarus’s approach during the time of sanctions was “constructive.”

Also, Rybak pointed to results of the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and congratulated Iran on the agreement.

Iran and the six major powers finalized the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna in July 2015 and the nuclear deal went into effect in January 2016.

NA