Araqchi, Georgian Counterpart Discuss Ties

Georgia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Khvtisiashvili, who was in Tehran for the third round of political consultations between the two countries, met with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, on Sunday. 
Araqchi pointed to trading difficulties arising from the United States' sanctions on Tehran, noting that the restrictions can at the same time create new opportunities for bilateral cooperation, IRNA reported. 
"Iran's relations with its neighbors, including Georgia, are not affected by foreign factors," he said, stressing the need to expand mutual ties independently. 
He pointed to Georgia's advantages regarding transit of goods and energy as great capacities for improving cooperation. 
Given the large number of Iranians in Georgia, Araqchi called for addressing consular issues and signing judicial agreements so that convicts of both countries can be repatriated in a timely manner. 
Khvtisiashvili expressed Tbilisi's readiness to improve bilateral ties in all sectors. 
The two sides also discussed the status of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal (with the world powers, but abandoned by the US) and regional issues, including developments in the Persian Gulf and Abkhazia.