Cape Town, 3 June 2023 (TDI): Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held a productive meeting during the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday.
The two ministers discussed the latest developments regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, which aims to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
They expressed their satisfaction with the resumption of the negotiations in Vienna and their support for a full and effective implementation of the agreement by all parties. They also stressed the importance of preserving the multilateral nature of the JCPOA and its endorsement by the UN Security Council.
Lavrov and Amir-Abdollahian also exchanged views on other regional and international issues of mutual interest, such as the situation in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon.
They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing political dialogue, security coordination, and humanitarian assistance in these countries. They also emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of all states in the region.
Furthermore, the two ministers also reviewed the progress of their bilateral relations, especially in the fields of trade and economic cooperation. They noted the positive dynamics of their trade turnover, which reached $2.1 billion in 2022, an increase of 17% compared to 2021.
They agreed to further expand their cooperation in various sectors, such as energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, science and technology, culture, and education. They also expressed their interest in promoting people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges.
Also Read: Russia, Iran discuss bilateral ties & opportunities for future cooperation
In addition, Lavrov and Amir-Abdollahian expressed their satisfaction with the level of coordination and cooperation between Russia and Iran within the framework of BRICS, a group of emerging economies that also includes Brazil, India, China, and South Africa.
They agreed to continue working together to strengthen the role and influence of BRICS in global affairs and to advance its agenda on peace, development, and cooperation.
The two ministers agreed to maintain regular contact on matters of mutual interest.
){kind=link}