Transit between the three countries and also between Asia and Europe is the first decision that has been made by Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia
Tehran – Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia aim to link Bandar Abbas in southern Iran to Helsinki in Finland (Asia to Europe), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was quoted as saying by Iranian official news agency.
‘Transit between the three countries and also between Asia and Europe is the first decision that has been made by Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia,’ Rouhani said in a joint Press Conference with presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan.
According to Iran Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praised Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin for their attendance in the trilateral meeting in Tehran.
‘Friendship, geographical neighborliness and cultural relations between three countries made us determined to take advantage of the capacity of trilateral relations,’ he said.
Following U.S. threats and pressures against Iran, Iranian leadership has turned to regional states for broader and close cooperation and developed a regional strategy against U.S.
Improving banking ties and paving the grounds for three countries to use their national currencies in bilateral and trilateral trade exchanges were among other topics discussed by three parties, President Rouhani added.
He also stressed: ‘We can develop cooperation in producing and exploring oil and in investing on energy field.’ Iran is also after finalizing the Caspian Sea legal regime to take advantage of Caspian Sea potentials, Iranian President reiterated. Rouhani also appreciated Putin for accepting to host the next round of trilateral meeting in Moscow. No date was announced but the meeting is expected to be held early next year.
‘In addition to economic issues, we discussed regional issues such as safeguarding the region, fighting terrorism and drugs trafficking and also Iran-Russia cooperation in maintaining stability and security in Syria,’ President Rouhani was further quoted as saying.
The trilateral meeting was held on November 2017 and was aimed at reinforcing cooperation among Tehran, Moscow and Baku. Iran has also developed a closer cooperation with Turkey and is seeking extensive collaboration with Pakistan as well.
Maintaining cooperation to finalize railway and road infrastructures within the framework of North-South Transport Corridor and following up agreements already signed on transit issues were among the most important topics discussed during President Rouhani’s meeting with President Putin and President Aliyev.
– PPA/IRNA