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.
Russian drones and missiles pounded the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other cities early on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 10...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (1 June) that he held productive discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, through in...
Google has asked U.S. regulators for permission to release up to 32 million sterilised mosquitoes in California and Florida as part of its experimenta...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 2 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
When Armenians vote on 7 June, they will be voting in an election shaped by months of political change and a rapidly deepening relationship with the E...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (1 June) that he held productive discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, through intermediaries, with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. He expressed optimism that a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon could hold despite hostilities.
Google has asked U.S. regulators for permission to release up to 32 million sterilised mosquitoes in California and Florida as part of its experimental “Debug” programme aimed at reducing populations of disease-carrying insects.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway is resuming operations on 2 June after extensive modernisation works. Officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye are set to gather in Akhalkalaki for a launch event marking the reopening of one of the Middle Corridor's most important transport links.
Global pop-star Taylor Swift has announced the release of a new original song for Disney and Pixar’s animated film "Toy Story 5", following days of online speculation among fans.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with Lebanese President and Israeli Prime Minister on efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon. According to a U.S. official, Washington has proposed a plan aimed at achieving a gradual de-escalation of hostilities.
The World Health Organisation’s designation of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is a stark reminder that Ebola remains a persistent global health threat rather than a disease of the past.
The United States has moved to close a regulatory gap that may have allowed advanced AI chips to reach Chinese-linked firms overseas despite export restrictions.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, newly independent Armenia emerged with the promise of democracy. But in the years that followed conflicts and political assassinations sidetracked politics in the country, until a 2018 revolution restored momentum to the promise.
When Armenians vote on 7 June, they will be voting in an election shaped by months of political change and a rapidly deepening relationship with the European Union. The result may not only determine who governs Armenia but also the future direction of the country's geopolitical alignment.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway is resuming operations on 2 June after extensive modernisation works. Officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye are set to gather in Akhalkalaki for a launch event marking the reopening of one of the Middle Corridor's most important transport links.
Kazakhstan is open to expanding its oil export routes through Azerbaijan and advancing joint energy infrastructure projects across the Caspian region, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov told AnewZ in an exclusive interview in Baku.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Georgia for resisting Western pressure (30 May), defending its national interests and pursuing a "multi-vector foreign policy" - language that closely mirrors the rhetoric of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment