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- North Korea praises Iran’s anti-US struggle
- Zarif says to meet French president Friday
- Iranian court hearing case of UK oil tanker
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- IME trade ups by 21 percent in July
- Finland backs INSTEX in defiance of US
- US anti-Iran policy in high seas harms Europeans: LA Times
- Iran, China confer on Syria
- Iran, Finland share views on Persian Gulf dialogue forum: Zarif
- Iran warns US against seizure of oil tanker
- Iraq eager to benefit from Iranian Police’s experience
- Iran planning 3rd step to reduce nuclear commitments: Spokesman
- Leader grants clemency to over 1,000 Iranian inmates
- Registration for Arbaeen Pilgrimage to begin in Iran on Friday
- Iran, Iraq agree to reopen Khosravi border crossing
- Iran deplores suicide attack at Kabul wedding hall
- Iran to hold int'l hand-woven carpets expo
- Zarif meets with Iran-Kuwait Friendship Group members
- Adrian Darya oil tanker not under any sanctions, says Iran envoy
- ‘Iran to stay in nuclear deal as long as its interests are met’
- India envoy happy with positive trend of trade with Iran
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- Iran, Japan diplomats discuss bilateral ties
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- US issues seizure warrant for Iranian supertanker 'Grace 1'
- Neanderthal tooth unearthed near Iran’s Zagros mountain
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- US faces humiliating defeat after Gibraltar releases Iranian tanker: Envoy
- Spokesman rejects claim on Iran’s commitment in exchange for tanker release
- Zarif reacts to release of Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
- Israel, UAE engaged in secret talks on Iran arranged by US: Report
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- Gibraltar releases Iran-operated tanker despite US pressure
Iran reiterated its desire to join the China-Pakis¬tan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and offered to commit its ‘full potential’ for the mega regional connectivity project.
"Iran is eager to join CPEC with its full capabilities, possibilities and abilities,” Iran’s Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost said while speaking at the Oxbridge Lecture here. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani first expressed interest in joining the CPEC during his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September last year.
China welcomed Iran’s interest and its envoy in Islamabad Sun Weidong has said that his country is awaiting Iranian inclusion in the project. Pakistan too has described it as a "good step”.
Honardoost, while responding to a question, acknowledged that Pak-Iran ties were not at the "best point”.
He attributed the problems to an ‘external element’ affecting the relationship and the two neighbors not fully comprehending each other’s point of view due to lack of information.
"We expect Pakistan to move forward. Trade should not be affected by other
developments,” he said in a general comment.
"It is not important if some country is not keen to join it,” he added.
Iran, he stressed, could contribute significantly to CPEC.
He said Iran’s rich energy resources, well-developed transport infrastructure, and progress in other fields, including nanotechnology, would add to CPEC once it joins it.
Moreover, Honardoost expected that some other countries could follow Iranian example and join CPEC after its entry.
"Iran believes our region should not be under the dark shadows of tensions and friction.
We don’t look at CPEC as just a trade, business and economic project. It is about peace
and tranquility in the region. It could help address many issues in this region,” the envoy noted.
Talking about bilateral trade, Honardoost said it had grown by about 30 per cent over the previous year and hoped that it would further increase when "other impediments are removed”. He expected progress by ‘Nauroze’, the start of Iranian year, which is in March.
The Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran (parliament), Alaedin Boroujerdi, also spoke on the occasion.
The two sides discussed areas of mutual cooperation and agreed to further deepen bilateral ties with particular focus on trade and economic cooperation, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
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