Czech FM in Iran’s Isfahan for Official Visit


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Heading a large business delegation, Czech Republic’s Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek started a visit to Iran by traveling to the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

The European country’s foreign minister and a 70-strong delegation arrived in Isfahan’s Shahid Beheshti International Airport on Friday and were welcomed by the province’s governor general.

Zaoralek said upon his arrival that the delegation was the largest trade delegation he had ever been accompanied with in a foreign visit since taking the office.

He further referred to the history of diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries, and regretted that Tehran-Prague relations had sharply declined.

Zaoralek also voiced his pleasure with traveling to Isfahan, and expressed the hope the visit would open a new chapter in the ties between Iran and Czech.

According to the Czech foreign ministry, he is scheduled to hold consultations with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and meet with Minister of Economic Affairs Ali Tayebnia and Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh.

Zaoralek, who is due to stay in Iran until September 7, will be also received by President Hassan Rouhani and Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani.

The meetings will focus on bilateral relations, further development of economic cooperation, current international policy issues in the region and the fight against terrorism.

The visit comes as part of a new wave of renewed interest in ties with Iran after Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 reached a conclusion over the text of a comprehensive 159-page deal on Tehran's nuclear program.

The comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the six powers would terminate all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran after coming into force.

Experts believe that Iran's economic growth would rise remarkably after the final nuclear deal takes effect.