TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with visiting South African Vice-President Cyril Ramaphosa in Tehrna on Sunday called for the expansion of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

"Iran has no restriction for the expansion of economic and trade relations with South Africa," Zarif said.

The Iranian foreign minister underlined the good diplomatic relations between Tehran and Pretoria, and expressed the hope that the two countries would further broaden their relations in economic and trade fields.

Zarif voiced pleasure in Ramaphosa's visit to Iran, and said, "We are waiting for the upcoming visit of South African President (Jacob Zuma) to Tehran; the Iranian nation respects late Nelson Mandela very much and visits by high-ranking South African officials to the Islamic Republic of Iran is reminiscent of past memories."

The Iranian foreign minister said that the two countries also share similar stances on the international scene, and added, "We can broaden our mutual cooperation in all areas."

Ramaphosa, for his part, thanked Iran for its unsparing supports for the campaign of the South African nation against the Apartheid regime, and said, "These aids helped us achieve victory faster."

The South African vice-president reminded that Mandela, after his release from prison, travelled to Tehran and also tried to expand the Pretroria-Tehran relations once he was elected president.

Ramaphosa pointed to Iran's nuclear program, and said, "We supported Iran's peaceful nuclear program; we are happy that you (Iran) could proceed well in the negotiations with the big powers; you insisted on you principles and succeeded and I congratulate this victory."

He said that a new chapter has opened in the two countries' bilateral relations after the nuclear agreement was reached between Iran and the big power in Vienna on July 14, and "I hope we could cooperate with Iran under the new conditions; a big trade delegation from South Africa's private sector is accompanying me to start a new round of cooperation with Iran."

By Fars News Agency