BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 15. Neighboring
countries represent Iran's greatest opportunity for foreign policy
and economic cooperation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas
Araghchi said during a meeting with tourism investors and
representatives of the handicrafts industry in Razavi Khorasan
Province in northeastern Iran.
"During the period of sanctions against Iran, neighboring
countries have become an important part of the country's economic
potential. In this regard, they represent the greatest opportunity
for both foreign policy and economic cooperation," he said.
Araghchi noted that Razavi Khorasan Province maintains trade
ties with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan. According to
him, the province has the necessary authority to expand trade and
cross-border contacts with neighboring countries, while
coordination with the Foreign Ministry's provincial office can help
facilitate the resolution of related issues.
He added that the provincial office's role is to promote
relations with neighboring states and that this potential should be
used to advance economic development, trade, and tourism.
The Iranian foreign minister also said that expanding the powers
of provincial authorities is one of the most effective ways to
address economic issues. According to Araghchi, President Masoud
Pezeshkian places special emphasis on this policy and considers it
important that issues related to individual provinces be resolved
quickly and accurately at the local level.
He stressed that many issues between Iran and its neighboring
countries, particularly those involving border regions, can be
resolved more quickly and efficiently at the provincial level than
through the capitals. As an example, he said that any dispute
between Razavi Khorasan Province and Afghanistan could be settled
more effectively through direct coordination between local
officials rather than through lengthy negotiations between Kabul
and Tehran.
