[caption id="attachment_153881" align="alignright" width="242"] Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders[/caption]
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called for the expansion of trade and business relations between Iran and the Netherlands.
Zarif said on Monday that Iran is planning to restore its economicties with the Netherlands to the previously prosperous levels.
The top Iranian diplomat made the remarks in a meeting with the Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders in Geneva, Switzerland.
The volumeof trade exchanges between the two sides has droppedin recent times and we should see it increased by using the opportunities that are ahead of us, Zarif said in the meeting.
Admittingthat some fields of cooperation have been affected by the current sanctions imposed on Iran, Zarif expressed hope that the two countries could increasetheir cooperation in other areas, especially in the tourism sector.
The Dutch foreign minister, for his part, called for increasedcooperation between the two countries in the fields of environmental protection, agriculture and irrigation.
Koenders expressed hope that current negotiations between Iran and major international powers on the countrys nuclear program could bear fruit.
The top Dutch diplomat also hailed Irans unique position in the Middle East, saying that the country plays a key role in regional developments.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, Zarif is in Switzerland to continue hisnegotiations with representatives of the United States and the Europeanofficials in a bid to reach a comprehensive agreement over Tehrans nuclear program before the end of June.