Portugal seeking closer ties with Iran

Oliveira made the remarks in Lisbon in a meeting with Head of Iran-Portugal Parliamentary Friendship Group Mustafa Kavakebian on Saturday, adding that the Portuguese banks are aware that Iran is committed to FATF, thus he hoped the banking relations process would speed up with solving the problems.

Oliveira expressed his happiness with the Iranian party’s trip to Portugal and said Iran and Portugal enjoy long friendship that will play an important role in facilitating and strengthening the relations.

Oliviera said that one of the main operational issues between the two countries is establishing a direct flight line between Tehran and Lisbon, and hoped investors’ entering the field will provide the chance to strengthen economic and commercial relations.

The head of the Iranian mission said that facilitating banking relations and finalizing cancellation of political and service visas between the two countries are necessary.

Hoping to see more visas issued for Iranians, Kavakebian said that the new perspective in the relations between Iran and Portugal after the Iran-G6 nuclear deal should be used in line with mutual interests.

He added that Iran and Portugal should expand cooperation in science, commerce, trade, culture and agriculture.

He also thanked Portugal to have condemned the Tehran terror attacks, and said, “Iran is fighting terrorism in the frontline and such actions can’t weaken our will to fight terrorism.”

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