President Hassan Rouhani called on Irish companies to seize the existing opportunity to make investment in Iran.
The president made the remarks in a meeting with Speaker of the Irish Lower House of Parliament Sean Barrett in Tehran on Wednesday, ISNA reported.
Rouhani referred to the enormous potential for expansion of cooperation between the two countries and called for the opening of doors in both countries to investors, entrepreneurs, and economic activists in public and private sectors.
He pointed to visits by large trade delegations from different European countries to Iran to sign major economic contracts and said, "There are numerous areas in Iran for foreign and Irish companies to make investment."
The president referred to IT, gas and oil, railroad transportation, environment, metal industry, mines, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture as just a few fields appropriate for increased cooperation, adding, "The visit of Irish parliament speaker to Iran is definitely a turning point in the two countries' relations."
He said Iran seeks "positive" and "constructive" cooperation with all the world's countries.
Elsewhere, he said the recent US sanctions measure against Iranian companies was to the detriment of all sides, a fact which was acknowledged by some European leaders in meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.
Rouhani pointed to the recent report of the International Atomic Energy Agency in which it was confirmed that no diversion has been observed in Iran's nuclear work after numerous inspections over the past 12 years and said, "Iran's nuclear activities are crystal clear and we seek a win-win deal which is beneficial for all the parties involved in (nuclear) talks."
The president added, "Although Ireland is not among the P5+1 (five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany) states, it can play an effective part as an EU member to help resolve Iran's nuclear dossier."
Man of Peace
Sean Barrett, for his art, called the policies of the new Iranian government in different areas as positive and said, "The Iranian president is recognized as 'man of peace' today in the world."
He expressed support for the talks between Iran and the P5+1 aimed at hammering out a comprehensive deal and said, "I'll ask my fellow colleagues (in the EU) to spare no effort to help talks succeed."
Better Relations With West
In a separate meeting with the Irish parliament speaker on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran is keen to promote relations with Western and European countries.
"Iran is seeking to remove obstacles hindering the promotion of relations with Western and European countries," IRNA quoted him as saying.
Zarif touched on the great potential in both countries to enhance ties and said, "Tehran-Dublin relations can be expanded in various spheres."
He also referred to US actions in its fight against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and said the United States is targeting Syria's infrastructures instead of finding a real solution to the issue.
The Irish parliament speaker, for his part, described Iran as a key player which can help secure peace and stability in the region and called for promotion of bilateral ties. Barrett also held a meeting with Expediency Council’s Center for Strategic Research director Ali Akbar Velayati on Tuesday.
The two officials called for expansion of bilateral ties and discussed issues of mutual interest in the meeting, ISNA reported.
