Speaking at the meeting with Ian Biggs in Tehran on Tuesday, Akbar Komeijani described enhancing financial and banking ties between two countries as the first step to develop trade relations.
“Iran and Australia have the necessary economic capacities and banking and trade relationships and thus, it can be hoped that cooperation in various fields between the two countries will be expanded,” he stated.
The Australian ambassador, for his part, said he is trying to improve his country’s relations with Iran, adding that financial relations between the two countries need to be boosted.
Back in 2016 prior to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran and Australia inked several major agreements to forge closer economic ties but the efforts have been hampered due to US sanctions.
The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the nuclear deal.
Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.
Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.