April 12, The Iran Project - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Uruguay from Brazil, on the third leg of his tour of four African and Latin American states.

While in Uruguayan capital city of Montevideo, Zarif attended in Iran-Uruguay joint economic meeting and held talks with Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez, his counterpart Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Vice President Lucia Topolansky as well as the President of the House of Representatives, Jorge Gandini.

Speaking in Iran-Uruguay joint economic meeting, the Iranian top diplomat praised the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries and nations, saying that the relations began more than 100 years ago.

Zarif expressed his happiness over attending the meeting, saying “I am very glad to be accompanied by an Iranian delegation from both public and private sectors in the fields of banking, investment, car manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, electrical and water industries, agriculture and food industries, higher education, urban transportation, and oil and petrochemicals,” adding that he is also accompanied by large Iranian knowledge-based companies at the joint meeting with Uruguayan trade, economic and industrial companies.

During the meeting with Vázquez, Zarif hailed the traditional and continuous relations between Iran and Uruguay, and said the ties have always been based on mutual respect.

Given the good grounds for cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic sector, bilateral cooperation and its diversification must be put on the agenda, he noted.

For his part, Vázquez welcomed the expansion of bilateral ties, emphasizing that the economic cooperation between Uruguay and the Islamic Republic of Iran must be promoted in all areas.

Following the meeting with Vázquez, the Iranian top diplomat held talks with his counterpart Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Vice President Lucia Topolansky and President of the House of Representatives, Jorge Gandini, as well as participating in a meeting of businessmen from both countries.

Zarif embarked on a four-nation tour on Sunday (April 8), including Senegal, Brazil and Uruguay.

The foreign minister’s last stop will be Namibia, where he will meet with senior political, economic, and parliamentary officials and exchange views with them.