TEHRAN -- Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian says Iran’s current administration is after expanding relations with the countries of the African continent.
The top diplomat made the remarks during a meeting with Candith Mashego-Dlamini, South Africa’s deputy foreign minister, in Tehran at the head of a delegation to attend a meeting of the two countries’ joint political deliberative committee.
The current Iranian administration maintains a “special perspective” of relations with South Africa, the foreign minister said, adding, “Iran recognizes no limits concerning expansion of its relations” with Johannesburg.
Amir-Abdollahian described the joint relations as “historical and friendly.” He said the countries enjoyed “very good capacities” that could be used towards development of their ties, and reminded that the upcoming meeting of the countries’ joint commission in Pretoria is of significance in this regard.
The Iranian minister, meanwhile, thanked South Africa over its supportive positions concerning the Palestinian people’s struggle in the face of the Israeli occupation and aggression.
The African official, for her part, expressed hope that the joint political deliberative committee’s meeting would feature “favorable and constructive” discussions about various issues and result in the establishment of the “bilateral ties’ roadmap.”
Also on Sunday, Iran’s foreign minister held a telephone conversation with his Qatari counterpart Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
They addressed the latest agreements among the countries’ officials and the upcoming World Cup that is expected to be held in the Arab country.
They also discussed all-out expansion of bilateral ties and negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna that seek to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
The senior diplomats laid emphasis on the continuation of mutual consultation aimed at following up on the issues that are on their agenda.