Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami has met and held negotiations with his Pakistani counterpart over development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various spheres of civilian nuclear energy.
During the Thursday meeting on the sidelines of the 67th Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in the Austrian capital of Vienna, Eslami and Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Raja Ali Raza Anwar underlined the significance of improvement of mutual ties between Tehran and Islamabad, and called for expansion of cooperation between the two nations.
Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic observes absolutely no restriction on the expansion of all-out relations and cooperation with neighboring Pakistan in areas of common interest.
In remarks during a meeting with Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani in Islamabad on August 4, Amir-Abdollahian described the current status of the bilateral relations as favorable and oriented towards further development.
He referred to the multi-billion gas pipeline between the two countries as one of the notable areas of bilateral cooperation, urging Pakistan to complete its part of the much-delayed project that has been on hold since 2014.
The project, launched in 2013, required Pakistan to finish the construction of the pipeline on its territory by the end of 2014.
But the work stalled, upsetting Tehran, which has said it already invested $2 billion in the pipeline on its side of the border.
Washington has opposed the pipeline, saying it could violate the illegal sanctions imposed on Tehran.
The Iranian foreign minister also underlined the importance of developing border trade between the two countries, calling for “timely” implementation of agreements on the expansion and completion of border terminals and markets.
