TEHRAN - Iranian Vice President Masoud Mirkazemi has said Iran will be ready to supply part of Europe’s energy needs but only under long-term contracts and after EU states’ insurance on non-intervention of third parties.
Mirkazemi, who leads Iran’s Plan and Budget Organization, made the announcement during a meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in Tehran.
“The European governments will be able to access supplies of energy from Iran if they change their political and economic approach,” he added.
Mirkazemi said that if Europe wants to ensure the security of its energy supply it should review its strategy.
“Iran will meet part of the energy demand in Europe on the condition that the other side shows lasting commitment and avoid being influenced by third parties,” he added.
During the meeting with Rau, Mirkazemi, who also chairs the joint cooperation committee between Iran and Poland, said that the two countries can expand their trade and economic ties by holding regular forums between private and government sector representatives.
Rau, for his part, said that Poland views Iran as a country with huge economic potentials, adding that the two countries can significantly boost their economic exchanges in the near future.
The Polish foreign minister said his country is opposed to the perception of some European capitals from Iran and said that deep rooted historic and cultural ties between Iran and Poland can help the two countries boost their cooperation in various fields.
He said that Poland is seeking to establish a direct flight route between Warsaw and Tehran as part of its efforts to increase trade ties with Iran.
In a relevant development on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran and Poland have a long-standing and historical relationship that dates back to 540 years ago, and this is a great asset in the relations between Tehran and Warsaw.
“Poland played an important humanitarian role in the Ukraine crisis in recent months, both for the displaced people of Ukraine and on the issue of the immediate transfer of Iranian nationals at the onset of the crisis from different parts of Ukraine to Poland and from there to Iran,” he added.
Referring to the great economic potential between Iran and Poland, Amir-Abdollahian highlighted that both sides agreed that the joint political committee of the two states will hold a new round of meetings at the level of political deputies of ministries and general political directors within the next three months.
They discussed science and technology, production of heavy vehicles, nuclear medicine, science, and teacher exchange, he added.
During the visit of the Polish Foreign Minister, a document on cultural, sports, scientific, youth, and media cooperation will be signed, which is a comprehensive document, the top Iranian diplomat said.