President Hassan Rouhani said in a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that establishing “close” and “strategic” relations with neighboring countries takes top priority under the current circumstances.
“There are good capacities in this regard … If we foster intimate and expanded relations with neighbors, we can easily overcome the problems,” he was quoted as saying by his official website.
The president was referring to issues facing the country following the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and its reimposition of sanctions.
He urged all ministries, whose tasks involve interaction with other countries, to step in to help improve Iran’s international relations while the Foreign Ministry performs its own duty of working out relevant policies.
“Foreign relations are apart from foreign policy,” he said, implying that all government bodies are responsible in this regard.
