Iran, Mexico stress expansion of bilateral ties

Iranian and Mexican officials, in a meeting in Tehran, underlined the need for the further expansion of bilateral ties and exchanged views over different ways of deepening and consolidating cooperation. During the meeting in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi and Head of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Mexican Senate Gabriela Cuevas Barrón explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating relations between Iran and Mexico. During the meeting, Sarmadi pointed to the current status of Iran-Mexico relations, and said, “Foreign governments are not allowed to meddle in the domestic affairs of Iran and Mexico.” The Iranian deputy foreign minister reiterated that Iran and Mexico can play a significant role in regional developments. The Mexican senator, for her part, voiced pleasure over her visit to Iran, “I became more acquainted with the Iranian people and their rich culture.” She underlined that the exchange of visits between Iranian and Mexican officials would serve to improve relations between Iran and Mexico. Earlier on Monday, Barrón met with Head of Iran-Mexico Parliamentary Friendship Group Hossein Amiri. At the meeting, Amiri said Iran attaches special importance to the expansion of ties with Latin American countries, Mexico in particular. He urged increased consultations between the two countries to make use of abundant capacities in the energy field. Amiri called on the two countries' high-ranking officials to prepare the ground for the development of economic and industrial relations between Tehran and Mexico City. Cuevas Barrón, for her part, said old civilizations of Iran and Mexico could act as a base for enhancement of political, economic and cultural relations between the two nations. She underlined the importance of parliamentary relations between Tehran and Mexico City in different areas, saying the two countries enjoy abundant capacities in energy sector and auto making industry that should be given due attention to help promote mutual cooperation. In September, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hailed the existing friendly relations between Iran and Mexico, and called for bolstering ties between the two countries in all arenas. In his congratulatory message to the Mexican nation and government on the anniversary of the country's Independence Day, Rouhani underlined the importance of enhancing relations with Mexico in the Iranian new administration’s foreign policy. He further hoped for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the line with safeguarding interests of both countries at bilateral and international levels.