March 3, The Iran Project - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Zagreb from Sofia on Wednesday (Feb. 28) on the third leg of his tour of Balkans and Eastern Europe which will also take him to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Zarif's stay in Zagreb features meetings with Croatian Minister of Labor of Croatia, Marko Pavi?, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovi?, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament  Gordan  Jandrokovi?, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi? as well as his counterpart Marija Pej?inovi? Buri?.

During the meeting, Zarif and Pavi? referred to the growing relations between Tehran and Zagreb, and called for further expansion of cooperation in energy, investment, industries, and technical trainings. They also stressed the need for facilitation of banking transactions as a means to boost economic and trade cooperation.

Talking to Zarif, the Croatian president highlighted the good level of political ties between the two countries, and voiced the keen interest of Croatia’s trade sector in doing business with the Iranian side.

She expressed hope for the removal of obstacles to the two countries’ cooperation on investment, and called for further cooperation in tourism, food industries, science and technology and petrochemicals.

For his part, Zarif noted the large economic delegation accompanying him on his third visit to Croatia in the past year, voicing readiness to boost economic relations alongside political ties.

In a meeting with Jandrokovi?, Zarif, submitted Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani's warm greetings to his Croatian counterpart and described as satisfactory the two-way relations in the political and economic fields, especially as for people exchanges; he expressed hope the relations between the two countries would expand through removing obstacles and providing the necessary facilities.

Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, for his part, described the two countries' relations as privileged one, adding "I am confident that your visit to Croatia will strengthen ties between the two countries."

Talking to Croatian PM, Zarif noted that the two countries are currently cooperating in halal tourism, energy, agriculture, food industries, advanced technologies, and banking transactions.

Zarif further highlighted the need to boost cooperation between Tehran and Zagreb in regional and international organizations and communities, as well as within the framework of the European Union.

The Croatian prime minister, for his part, deemed the current level of relations between the two countries satisfactory, adding “certain effective measures have been taken in the past few years to expand economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.”

Speaking  to Zarif, Croatian FM voiced her country’s resolve as well as the European Union's to preserve the implementation of Iran nuclear deal.

Zarif also highlighted Iran's resolve to expand relations with Croatia in all areas free of any restrictions, and exchanged views with his Croatian counterpart on various ways to facilitate the implementation of agreements.