Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 11
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran and Sweden are determined to take the bilateral relations to the level of pre-sanctions era, the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.
He made the remarks during a joint press conference with visiting Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven in Tehran Feb. 11, Iran’s state-run IRINN TV reported.
“We attach special importance to Sweden as not only a developed and advanced European country and a member of the EU but also as a non-permanent member of the Security Council of UN,” Rouhani said.
Following the implementation of the nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers, which came into force in January 2016, proper conditions are prepared for broader trade relations between Iran and the EU, he added.
Sweden has always had moderate approach towards Iran, Rouhani said, adding that relations between Tehran and Stockholm continued even under the sanctions.
The Iranian president further said that transportation, mining, ICT and environment are good areas for cooperation between the two countries.
Iran is willing to use Sweden’s economic potential, in particular in the fields of exports and banking, Rouhani added.
Iran expects the EU to provide full support of the European banks and companies in their cooperation with Iran following the implementation of the nuclear deal, he noted.
Rouhani said the two countries discussed transit route of Iran to connect East and North Europe to the Indian Ocean via rail and road, adding, “we also discussed academic and research cooperation, especially in the field of high-technology.”
Swedish prime minister arrived in Tehran on Feb. 10 for an official three-day visit. He is scheduled to discuss issues of mutual interest with Iranian officials.
Iranian and Swedish officials signed five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on the sidelines of a meeting between Rouhani and Löfven.
The signed documents include cooperation in new technologies, higher education and research, road transport, ICT and women empowerment and family affairs.