Iranian foreign minister visits Indonesia to sign mutual agreements

Jakarta, April 20 (RHC)-- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Indonesian President Joko Widodo have discussed the expansion of mutual relations and leading international developments.

In a Monday meeting in Jakarta, Zarif voiced Iran's readiness to improve cordial ties with Indonesia and hailed the country's principled stance on the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorses the deal.

He said Tehran and Jakarta enjoy growing trade ties and have agreed to improve cooperation in the economic sector though the Iran-Indonesia Joint Economic Commission. 

The Indonesian president, for his part, stressed the importance of his country's ties with Iran and said both sides should hold consultations on ways to boost trade ties given their high potential.

Earlier in the day, Zarif met with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, during which the top Iranian diplomat stressed the need to speed up the finalization of a preferential tariffs agreement with Indonesia, expressing Tehran’s readiness to continue negotiations in this regard.

Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Widodo paid an official visit to Tehran in December 2016 and held talks with senior Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani.

During the trip, Iran and Indonesia signed over a dozen basic agreements to promote cooperation in a variety of areas in what could indicate a significant opening in trade relations between the two countries.