Iran looks to 'provincial diplomacy' with neighbouring countries to defuse sanctions

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran is pursuing what he termed a policy of “provincial diplomacy” to promote Iran’s trade and cultural relations with its neighbouring countries.

Speaking at a conference in Tabriz University on Wednesday, Iran’s top diplomat stressed the role of trade and cultural exchanges between the border provinces and the neighbouring countries saying, “the Foreign Ministry is supporting provincial diplomacy to further bilateral ties with neighbours”.

“The two provinces of East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan, and the provinces of Gilan and Ardabil, can play again the historical role (of serving as gateways) in relations with neighbouring countries, including Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey,” IRNA quoted him saying.

Araghchi also said that the Foreign Ministry has the implementation of the policy of provincial diplomacy on its agenda “so that Iran’s diplomatic missions can establish effective ties with the provincial capitals to help develop trade, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural cooperation”.

Last week, the Iranian foreign minister opened the provincial diplomacy conference in the northeastern city of Mashhad in which he stated that economic ties with the neighbouring countries are the “breathing space” in the wake of sanctions.

“Iran's trade with each of its neighbouring countries is more than total trade with Europe,” said Araghchi as Tehran is under U.S. and European sanctions over its civilian nuclear program.

“Majority of bilateral issues can be reviewed and resolved at border areas,” he added, “Iran’s priority in foreign relations is its immediate neighbours and next the nearby countries in the region.”

According to Araghchi, smugglers and terrorists do not cross the borders through which goods are exchanged and passengers travel.

“As the saying goes, if local officials in border provinces reach agreements with neighbouring provinces, the borders will function as borders of peace,” he said.

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