Iran to expand cooperation with SOCAR
By Rashid Shirinov
Iran considers it necessary to expand energy cooperation with Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR, said the Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Namdar Zangeneh at a meeting with the President of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev in Baku on August 8.
Rovnag Abdullayev mentioned rapid and successful development of relations between the two countries, which even more accelerated after President Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to Iran this February.
President of SOCAR also expressed confidence that the official visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Azerbaijan will mark a new stage in the development of bilateral relations. It was noted that relations between SOCAR and Iranian oil and gas companies recently became more intense.
Zangeneh, for his part, noted that Iran attaches great importance to expansion of relations with neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan. He then stressed the need of strengthening economic relations, particularly in the field of energy cooperation.
The sides further discussed issues of mutual interest and prospects of cooperation.
During the last visit of Ilham Aliyev to Tehran on February 23, officials of the two neighboring countries signed 11 documents on cooperation in transportation, cross-border transfers of electricity, health and medical sciences, customs regulations, and the trade of oil and natural gas.
Both countries will further implement already reached agreements in commerce, industry, energy, culture, banking, consular facilities and telecommunications, in particular, in railway transportation. The North-South transportation corridor, which will cross the countries, was designed to serve as a link for connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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