Bright Prospects for Iran-Romania Coop.

Mohammad Javad Zarif said a bright future awaits Tehran-Bucharest relations because of the strong political will and focus of business communities.

The Iranian foreign minister made the statement in a speech to an Iran-Romania trade and financial forum in the Romanian capital on Wednesday, IRNA reported.

Zarif said although Iran is located in a chaotic West Asia, it enjoys a stable economy, in which people have a strong presence.

"Iran can be a sea route to the Indian Ocean. In the transit sector, Iran and Romania can have close cooperation in the Sea of Oman and Persian Gulf," he said.

Zarif arrived in Bucharest on Tuesday night at the head of a 30-strong politico-economic delegation.

The delegation comprises representatives from banking, energy, transportation, medical, pharmaceuticals, mines, auto parts and agricultural machinery sectors. Trade between the countries stands at €250 million ($276 million) and is targeted to reach €1 billion ($1.1 billion).

Iran mainly imports machinery from Romania, while exporting dried nuts, oil, petrochemicals and leather to the European nation.

  Three-Nation Tour

Zarif and his Romanian counterpart, Lazar Comanescu, sat down for talks on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the two signed two agreements concerning bilateral political consultations and the potential removal of visa restrictions for Romania-bound Iranian diplomats.

During his stay in Bucharest, the top diplomat was expected to meet Romanian dignitaries, including President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos and Senate President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.

Romania was the first leg of a three-nation tour of East European countries, which takes Zarif to Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

His visit to Bucharest was taking place in response to a three-day trip by his Romanian counterpart in March.

The Iranian foreign minister paid an official visit to four North European countries, namely Poland, Finland, Sweden and Latvia, in late May and early June.