Iranian president felicitates Austria on National Day

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani extended his congratulations to the Austrian government and nation on the country's National Day. In his congratulatory message to Austrian President Heinz Fischer, the Iranian president voiced his sincere congratulation to the Austrian government and nation on the occasion. President Rouhani expressed the hope that under collective efforts of both sides' officials the two friendly nations would witness further expansion of mutual cooperation in all fields. In mid-July, former Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Austria's outgoing Ambassador to Tehran Thomas Buchsbam hailed the friendly relations between to the two nations, and hoped for the expansion of bilateral relations between Tehran and Vienna. Salehi praised the long-standing friendly relations between Iran and Austria, adding, “There is no obstacle on the way of development and expansion of Iran-Austria ties.” There has been a friendly relation between Iran and Austria during past years and, on many occasions, the two countries' official have stressed expansion of mutual cooperation between the two nations in various fields. For instance, early in August 2008, Iran and the Austrian company RAI inked an agreement on implementation of joint railway projects. The Austrian company was obliged to cooperate with Iranian side on completion of Qazwin- Rasht-Astara railroad at the time. Also in April 2007, then Iranian Oil Minister Seyed Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh announced the endorsement of a $ 30bln MoU between Iran and Austria's OMV which paved the way for Iran's gas exports to Europe.