Iran sets no limits to ties promotion with Algeria: First VP

First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri says the Islamic Republic is fully prepared to improve relations with Algeria, stressing that Tehran sets no limitations to the expansion of ties with the North African country after the removal of sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program.

“After the removal of sanctions, Iran seeks to expand ties with different countries, particularly friend states such as Algeria,” Jahangiri said in a meeting with visiting Algerian Minister of Energy Noureddine Bouterfa in Tehran on Saturday.

He added that Iranian authorities are determined to improve cooperation with Algeria in all sectors and noted that the exchange of visits between the two countries’ officials would play an important and effective role in this regard.

Jahangiri further called for the removal of obstacles to banking transactions between Tehran and Algiers in order to enhance the two sides' economic cooperation.

The vice president further said Tehran and Algiers must move toward building an oil-independent economy. "As two oil-rich countries, Iran and Algeria, must cut down on their reliance on oil revenues and the sooner they achieve this feat, the better for the two countries." 

He also called on Algeria to play a more active role in the settlement of ongoing issues in the Middle East, saying, “We expect the country to play an effective and more dynamic role in [resolving] regional issues, particularly problems and issues which some countries in the region and in the Muslim world are facing.”

The Algerian minister, for his part, said Tehran and Algiers are in sync in their policies at OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and called on the two countries to improve their coordination in the energy sector.

He added that the two countries have always maintained good ties but noted that they could use the grounds provided after the implementation of the JCPOA to bolster their economic cooperation.

Bouterfa said the two countries need to establish direct flights to help improve bilateral economic ties and expressed Algeria’s readiness to take necessary steps to shore up bilateral cooperation and serve the two nations’ interests.

He added that his country is making efforts to play a positive role in solving regional crises and establishing peace.

SS