Iran, Spain resolved to promote ties: Senior Iranian official

Speaking to reporters, Ali Akbar Velayati said, 'Iran-Spain relations are five hundred years old, and Spain, as an ancient European country, has positive ties with Iran, nearly in all spheres.'

Velayati who is also a member of Iran's Expediency Council, met with Alfonso Dastis in Tehran on Wednesday.

'At the meeting, promoting bilateral relations, as well as cooperation on peace in west Asia were discussed,' he said.

'The two sides believe that the countries in the region should be run by their peoples, the popular governments should be protected against interventions by outsiders, and efforts should be made to help the people, particularly in Yemen, that are struggling with livelihood problems as a result of the war, get rid of the blockade and the imposed problems.'

Dastis arrived in Tehran on Tuesday evening to talk with Iranian officials.

The visiting minister, who has met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will also meet Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in his two-day visit.

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