Iran seeks better ties with Indonesia

The Iranian president's chief of staff said a central plank of Iran's foreign policy is to forge closer relations with Muslim world, especially with Indonesia, Iran Daily reported on Tuesday. "Indonesia, as one of the biggest economies in the Islamic world, holds a significant position in Iran's foreign policy, and cooperation between the two countries can play an effective role in (promoting) convergence among Muslim nations," Mohammad Nahavandian said in a meeting with visiting Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam. New approaches adopted by the Iranian government and the resultant political atmosphere have opened up numerous opportunities for enhancing ties between Iran and Indonesia, Nahavandian was quoted as saying. Alam, for his part, expressed his country's willingness to boost ties with Iran. Iran and Indonesia can play an important role in promoting interactions among Muslim countries and in countering extremism, the Indonesian official said.