TEHRAN -- Iran’s neighbors represent its “biggest opportunity” for foreign policy and economic cooperation under sanctions, Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said Saturday, calling for deeper regional engagement and greater use of provincial diplomacy to expand ties with neighboring states.
“Our neighbors are the biggest opportunity now in our foreign policy and economic cooperation,” Araghchi said at a meeting with tourism and handicrafts investors in northeastern Khorasan Razavi Province.
Araghchi said Iran’s relations with neighboring countries, particularly in border regions, could help strengthen economic cooperation and ease challenges created by sanctions, arguing that many issues could be resolved more effectively at the provincial level rather than through negotiations between capitals.
“Many issues between Iran and neighboring countries, especially in border areas, can be resolved at the provincial level much more easily and quickly than at the level of capitals,” he said.
He cited Khorasan Razavi’s geographic position and its links with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan as an example of how regional cooperation could support trade, tourism and economic activity.
The foreign minister said expanding the authority of provinces was among the government’s priorities, allowing local officials to address economic challenges with greater speed and a closer understanding of regional conditions.
“Many of the problems of economic actors have domestic roots,” Araghchi said, referring to previous discussions with exporters and businesses in Khorasan Razavi, where he said internal administrative procedures