S. Africa: US Withdrawal from N. Deal Ineffective on Relations with Iran

Promoting tourism is one of the effective areas for economic growth, Khumalo said in a meeting with Governor General of Iran’s central province of Isfahan Abbas Rezayee on Tuesday.

Stressing the need for establishing direct flight between the two countries, he said, “Although there are economic and international limits in the field, we are seeking to solve the problems.”

Isfahan governor general, for his part, called for boosting trade, economic and scientific relations between the province and South Africa, saying that both sides boast of capacities for scientific and technological exchanges.

Isfahan can help promote friendship between the two countries in the political, economic, cultural and tourism arenas, he said.

Rezayee also hoped that the meetings will lead to surge in trade and economic exchanges between the two countries. 

Early in last month, Khumalou, in a meeting with Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, said that his country is determined to strengthen bilateral relations with Iran.

Khumalou insisted that his country was aware of Iran's fulfillment of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments and continued to maintain its support and the implementation of the deal.

“South Africa has always had friendly ties with Iran since the Revolution, and has never forgotten Iran's support for the liberation of its people,” he highlighted, during a meeting on Sunday.

The diplomat went on to say that South Africa seeks to expand its cooperation with Iran in the commercial and economic fields, and in this regard, in addition to emphasizing the importance of the implementation of existing agreements, calls for cooperation in other areas where the two sides have high capabilities and capacity.

Falahatpisheh, for his part in this meeting, referred to friendly relations between Iran and South Africa, saying, “After the Islamic Revolution, Iran-South Africa relations have been pursued at a high level, based on mutual respect which with the efforts of the authorities of the two countries, this level of relations must be preserved.”

The lawmaker added, “One hundred documents of cooperation between Iran and South Africa have been signed, which is evidence of friendly relations between the two states, but the two countries' agreements should be executed and not left on paper.”

In a related front, in mid-December, Iranian Vice-President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari visited South Africa at the head of a big delegation.

There Sattari said in a scientific meeting that Tehran is ready to share its scientific accomplishments with South Africa in the near future.

He voiced hope to share the country’s scientific achievements with South Africa in the near future.

In late April, Tehran and Pretoria, in a joint statement issued at the end of South African President Jacob Zuma's official visit to Iran, underlined the need for fast growth in expansion of ties and mutual cooperation.

Iran and South Africa underlined broadening their bilateral ties in different areas in their joint statement.

The two sides also agreed to expand mutual cooperation in regional and international areas.