Iran, Belgium Discuss Expansion of Economic Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia and Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders on Tuesday explored avenues for promotion of economic and trade ties between Tehran and Brussels.
In the meeting held here in Tehran, Tayyebnia hailed 170 years of bilateral economic ties between the two countries, but at the same time noted that anti-Iran sanctions have had negative impacts on the trade relations in recent years.
New conditions and achievements following Iran’s nuclear negotiations have paved the way for renovation and reinforcement of ties, he added.
Reynders, for his part, stressed that there are numerous grounds for the promotion of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
He further expressed the hope for swift termination of the sanctions in the near future, saying, “I hope that within the next weeks, the connection of the (Iranian) ministry of economy and Central Bank (of Iran) would be re-established with the SWIFT (Society for the Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications).”
SWIFT operates service transmitting letters of credit, payments and securities transactions among 9,700 banks in 209 countries.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany – also known as the P5+1 or E3+3) on July 14 reached a nuclear deal that would terminate all sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after taking effect.
