TEHRAN – Iranian President Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Raisi has once again reiterated his administration’s desire to strengthen ties with Iran’s neighbors, noting that strengthening ties with these countries is a priority for Iran. ‘Iran.

Speaking in a television interview on Saturday evening, President Raisi approached relations with neighboring countries through the prism of trade and commerce.

Responding to a question on the policy of interaction with neighbors in the 13th administration, he said: “The policy of interaction with neighbors has been one of our priorities, which has produced good results, in particular a positive trade balance. We have contracts worth $2.5 billion with 18 countries to export technical and engineering services.

Referring to the launch of new rail corridors in the 13th administration, the President said, “Iran’s share of trade and transit in the region is very high and relations with member countries of the Shanghai Organization , BRICS and ECO in this regard are very important to us. We are only at the beginning of the road and it was only in the first quarter of this year that we saw a 20% growth in trade. In the field of trade with neighboring countries and the region, we must achieve a share that befits the dignity of the Iranian nation. »

Raisi added: “In the field of oil exports, despite the threats and sanctions of the enemy, we are in good condition today and, God willing, we will have better conditions ahead of us”, according to a reading of the interview broadcast by the official website of the Iranian presidency.

Asked about the visit of the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, to Tehran and the state of negotiations for the lifting of sanctions, the president said: “I said from the beginning that we will continue the lifting of the sanctions, because the sanctions are cruel and must be lifted as soon as possible. The Americans have not fulfilled their obligations, they have violated the treaty, and I have repeatedly stated that the Americans must start fulfilling their obligations again. obligations.

Raisi added: “The second path that we have followed since the beginning of the work of the government is the path of the neutralization of sanctions. We have a base and a seat in the government led by the first vice president and many colleagues across the country with whom we are pursuing the task of neutralizing the sanctions as well as lifting them. »

He also described the adoption of an anti-Iranian resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors drafted by the United States and its European allies as highly inappropriate, stating: “The fact that in the midst of negotiations some are proposing for the Board of Governors to issue a resolution against the nation of Iran, especially under conditions where all necessary cooperation has been done with the agency, was highly inappropriate and we announced that it would disrupt the negotiation process.”

Regarding the Borrell talks in Tehran, Ayatollah Raisi said Iran has no plans to end the talks, noting: “Respectful positions and respectful negotiations to pursue the wishes of the great Iranian nation , which is the use of his own rights, are being pursued by the government and were also highlighted in the meetings we had with Mr. Borrell.

In response to a question asking him if he had any promising news on foreign trade, international relations and new investments in the country, the President said: “We said that the work of equitable distribution of subsidies in the process economic reform is a preliminary step. We must take steps towards economic growth. Economic growth rests on two main pillars, an increase in investment and an increase in productivity.