South Korea and Iran have agreed to strengthen political and economic partnerships, as Seoul's top diplomat made a significant trip to the Middle Eastern nation, the East Asian country's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Saturday. Yun also met President Hassan Rouhani.
Yun was the first South Korean foreign minister to make an official visit to Iran in 14 years.
The two sides agreed that an "important chance" has been created for strengthening bilateral cooperation with the July 14 deal on Iran's nuclear program, said the ministry, according to Yonhap News Agency.
"President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif predicted that the international community's sanctions on Iran will be lifted soon and expressed hope that South Korean companies will make strides in doing business in Iran," it said.
Yun also told the Iranian officials that the nuclear accord between Tehran and world powers will have a positive effect on efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
He pointed out that the two nuclear issues are different in many aspects, but it is meaningful that the Iranian deal was reached through "tireless dialogue and negotiations."
In response, Zarif said it is an example of the importance of diplomacy in handling a conflict.
"Nuclear weapons can never promote the security of any country," he added.
Iranian media quoted Zarif as saying Iran-South Korea relations have always been based on "mutual respect" and his country is ready to expand bilateral cooperation in various fields, including human rights and the war on terror.
