Iran Eyes Close Int’l Ties with Nigeria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called for efforts to establish stronger relations with Nigeria within the framework of international organizations, like OPEC or the NAM.
Tehran and Abuja can work together and play a major and effective role in various international bodies, including Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the group of Eight Developing Islamic Countries (D8) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Zarif said on Monday.
He made the comments at a meeting on Iran-Nigeria economic and trade cooperation, held in Abuja on Monday.
Pointing to a big economic and trade delegation accompanying him in the tour of Africa, Zarif called on the Nigerian merchants and economic activists to hold talks with the Iranian representatives on whatever field they would like to cooperate.
In separate comments in the gathering, Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama voiced his country’s willingness to promote cooperation with Iran in the scientific, technological, economic and trade fields.
Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Nigeria on Monday, as the first leg of his six-day tour to West Africa, which also takes him to Ghana, Guinea-Conakry and Mali.
Zarif has arrived in Ghana Monday evening in the second leg of his African tour after visiting Nigeria.
