West not informed of realities in Iran

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the western states aren’t well informed of the realities in Iran, and expressed the hope that regular meetings between the two sides would obviate the misunderstandings. “We hope that the existing misunderstandings will be removed through regular talks between Iran and Europe on different issues,” Larijani said in a meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders in Tehran on Sunday afternoon. He also expressed the hope that all-out cooperation between Iran and Europe would be expanded in the future. Reynders, for his part, referred to the good relations between the two countries, and said, “The Belgian government welcomes development of relations with Iran in different arenas.” He also appreciated Iran for its efforts in fighting drug trafficking, and said, “The two countries’ cooperation in this regard is highly important.” The Belgian foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday to discuss the latest international and regional developments as well as mutual cooperation with senior Iranian officials. During his stay in Iran, the top Belgian diplomat met his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, President Hassan Rouhani and a number of other senior officials. At the meeting with President Rouhani in Tehran on Sunday, the Belgian foreign minister called for the further expansion of the countries' ties in different areas, specially in economic fields. Reynders pointed to the good relations between Iran and Belgium, and said, “The two countries' relations date back to the 19th century and Brussels is willing to expand these ties.” He noted that a Belgian economic delegation is slated to visit Tehran soon, and expressed the hope that after the achievement of a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers in the near future, the Iranian economy would grow and normal economic relations between Iran and Europe would be revived.