Iran’s Rafsanjani, Kazakh Envoy Discuss Expansion of Ties

Chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council (EC) Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Kazakh Ambassador to Iran Baghdad Amiriyev said that both countries are rich in mineral and human resources, and called for advanced relations between Tehran and Astana, AVA Diplomatic reports.

In a meeting in Tehran on Monday, the two sides voiced their willingness to pave the ground for promotion of mutual cooperation.

Rafsanjani said in the meeting that independence of the Central Asian and the Caucasus states was beneficial for the region.

He highlighted the geographic and political advantages of Kazakhstan and said Tehran is ready to implement development projects in the country.

In September, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani announced that Tehran and Astana are planning to start a considerable boost in their trade transactions.

“We intend to gradually increase the volume of Tehran-Astana trade exchanges by up to five times,” President Rouhani told reporters in Astana at the time.

The Iranian president pointed to the grounds on which the two nations plan to widen their ties and exchanges, and said, “The two countries will increase their cooperation in different areas, including energy and transportation.”

President Rouhani also referred to the launch of Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway, and said, “Kazakhstan can transit around five million tons of its export commodities to Iran’s Southern ports per year once the new Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway starts operation.”

Iran and Kazakhstan also signed several cooperation pacts during in different areas during President Rouhani’s visit to that country in September.