Iranian Government News Thursday Iran, Armenia Opt for Broadening of Bilateral Ties Tehran: The IRIB has issued following news: Senior Iranian and Armenian officials in a meeting in Yerevan underlined the need for the further expansion of mutual cooperation between the two countries, specially in the fields of trade and industry. During the meeting in the Armenian capital on Tuesday, Iranian Deputy Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mojtaba Khosro-Taj and Armenian Economy Minister Suren Karayan explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating bilateral relations. The two sides also discussed the implementation of the agreements in various fields. The recent visit by President Rouhani to Armenia and his negotiations with Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, paved the grounds for expanding cooperation between the two countries. Armenia as the only Eurasian Economic Union member state which has land border with Iran, together with Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan has planned to create a free trade zone. In relevant remarks in late June, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani underlined that Tehran and Yerevan should join hands to set up a working group to clean Aras River. "Iran and Armenia have long-standing relations and Iran is ready for cooperation in different fields," Larijani said in a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ara Babloya on the sidelines of meeting of Eurasian parliament speakers in Seoul. The Iranian parliament speaker reiterated that accelerating implementation of memoranda of understanding on setting up power plants and electricity transmission signed earlier can benefit both sides. Armenian parliament speaker, for his part, condemned the recent twin terrorist attacks in Tehran and hailed Larijani’s proposals for institutionalizing Meeting of Eurasian Parliament Speakers as appropriate. He pointed to the two countries' long-standing relations, and said, "Cleaning Aras River will make us happy." Babloya said that Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group will be enacted in the Armenian parliament soon in line with promoting parliamentary ties between the two legislations. In relevant remarks also in June, Armenian President Serzh Sargysyan called for expanding all-out relations between Yerevan and Tehran. "I am confident that during your tenure in office, the friendly neighborly Iran will continue to develop upward, bringing its considerable and important contribution to the regional peace and stability," President Sargysyan said. "I am hopeful that through our joint efforts, the traditionally warm and friendly Armenian-Iranian relations will continue to develop and strengthen in all areas, registering a qualitatively new level of cooperation between our peoples," he added. In late February, Tehran and Yerevan signed an agreement to boost their cooperation in the field of customs affairs. The cooperation pact was sealed by Head of Iran's Customs Administration Massoud Karbasian and Chairman of Armenia's State Revenue Committee Vardan Harutyunyan in Yerevan. According to the agreement, the two countries will promote cooperation on custom regulations, products’ value and classification, enforcing rules and transportation rules. Both sides discussed challenges and cross-border trade opportunities and the ways to foster trade relations Upon implementation of all provisions of the newly-signed protocol, all information, requests as well as customs and trade documents between Iran and Armenia need to be provided in accordance with national laws of both sides. As per the agreement, every three months as well as on an annual basis, the two parties will exchange customs statistics data on bilateral trade turnover. The cooperation pact will provide the necessary grounds for facilitating and expanding trade between Tehran and Yerevan as will also open a new chapter in trade relations, which will in turn, elevate bilateral economic ties between the two countries. Export by Iran to Armenia amounted to $179.103 million in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended March 21) and Iran’s imports from Armenia during the same period stood at $20.892 million.