TEHRAN – Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (MPO) Ali-Akbar Safaei has said Armenia is eager to take part in maritime activities in the Islamic Republic’s southeastern Chabahar Port, the TPO portal reported.

Safaei who met with Armenia’s Deputy Economy Minister Narek Teryan and the country’s commercial attaché to Iran Vardan Kostanyan in Tehran on Tuesday, said: “Considering the interest of the Armenian government to cooperate in the maritime and port sector with Iran, the Ports and Maritime Organization will do its best to facilitate such cooperation.”

Speaking in this meeting, Safaie emphasized that the PMO welcomes any bilateral agreement between Iran and Armenia in the maritime and port sector, adding that Iran supports any tripartite cooperation with India and Armenia in Chabahar Port, and the proposed packages in this regard are being reviewed by the PMO.

The official said the Iranian government has been following new strategies to expand economic cooperation with neighboring countries and in line with these strategies the country’s maritime trade has increased by nine percent in the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) in comparison to the previous year.

EF/MA