IRNA - Australian Deputy Ambassador to Tehran Timothy John Peterson said on Wednesday that after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) relations as well as economic cooperation between Iran and Australia have increased remarkably.


Peterson said in a meeting with the Head of Ardebil Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture Hossein Pirmoazen on Wednesday.

In the past, Iran was among excellent trade partners for Australia in the Middle East region but in recent years and due to some economic sanctions these relations faded, but after the implementation of the JCPOA, it improved once again.

Following the attendance of the companies such as Total and Airbus and signing various deals with Iran, Australian companies have been persuaded to boost economic cooperation with Iran, he said.

Formerly, Iran exported carpets and dried fruits to Australia and imported wheat and red meat from the country, but presently there are untapped grounds in other fields as oil and gas, mines, water management, exports of technical science, agriculture and education, he said.

Grounds for investment opportunities in agriculture and foodstuffs in Iran are well prepared, Pirmoazen said.

Economic sanctions urged Iran for many years to suffer in industry, renovation of agricultural machinery and foodstuff industries, he said.

Iran can take advantage of Australia's experiences in industry, foodstuff and machinery, Pirmoazen said.

In the troubled Middle East region, Iran is the best country in terms of social security and investment and to the same reason economic cooperation between Iran and Australia should mount, he said.

In 1990's, Australia was Iran's first trade partner in the Middle East region, and following of toughening economic sanctions in 2010, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission ( Austrade) closed in Iran but in the year 2016 reopened, he said.