Congolese Persian Relations

FM: Iran Ready to Expand All-Out Ties with Congo

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in a meeting with his Congolese counterpart Alexis Tambwe Mwamba in Tehran announced the country's preparedness to develop bilateral relations with Congo in all fields.

During the meeting on Wednesday, Mottaki said that the two countries' presidents are determined to establish excellent, deep and strategic ties, adding, "Iran is ready for expansion of comprehensive ties with Congo."

The Iranian top diplomat emphasized need for identification of each other's countries' potentials for bilateral cooperation in economic, project implementation, and joint investments.

"The establishment of the joint economic commission, cooperation in mines field, agricultural activities, excavation of oil and gas, manufacturing passenger cars and home appliances, setting up irrigation systems, dam construction and erecting cement factories are among the important fields for strengthening bilateral ties," he added.

Referring to the need for increasing bilateral transactions, arranging for business exhibitions, facilitating for consular and trade bonuses as promotional measures for boosting investments, he said, "Double taxation should be lifted, preferential tariffs must be applied and the traffic and residence of the merchants and businessmen should be facilitated in order to reach that end."

Mottaki also said that a UN-brokered nuclear fuel swap proposal can serve to build confidence in the Iranian nuclear issue.

"The fuel swap is a constructive solution and an opportunity for various parties involved in supplying fuel for Tehran's research reactor to build confidence," Mottaki said in a joint press conference with his Congolese counterpart on Wednesday.

A UN-brokered proposal envisaged Iran sending most of its low-enriched uranium abroad for further processing and eventual conversion into fuel rods for the Tehran research reactor, which produces radiomedicine essential for cancer patients.

Mottaki said that the idea has been fully analyzed since it was first floated by Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He added that the Vienna group consisting of France, Russia, the US, the IAEA and Iran are the main parties seeking to clinch the deal, and said the UN Security Council, the P5+1, China and Japan could help with their encouragement.

The top official expressed the hope that an agreement could be reached during the upcoming meeting of Iran, Brazil, and Turkey in Tehran. He said that Iran was waiting to hear the new proposals prepared by Ankara and Brasilia.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Brazilian President Luiz In?cio Lula da Silva are slated to visit Iran to take part in nuclear talks.

As two non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, Brazil and Turkey have been looking to find solutions to the nuclear standoff and help reach a fuel swap deal.