TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Iran�s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif promised that the country�s diplomatic missions will help the Iranian state-run and private sector companies develop closer trade cooperation with the Latin American countries.





Speaking at a formal dinner ceremony at the Cuban capital of Havana�s Hotel Nacional de Cuba on Sunday night, the Iranian minister said all Iranian political missions across Latin America will help the country's private and state sectors to interact with the countries in such �major part of the world� and press ahead with the current plans.

He also noted that coming into force of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), has removed the obstacles and opened up opportunities for closer ties between Iran and the Latin American nations.

Zarif arrived in Cuba on Sunday as the first leg of a Latin America tour, which will take him later to Nicaragua, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia and Venezuela.

Before landing in Havana, the Iranian minister said his accompanying delegation includes 60 representatives from the private sector as well as 20 economic officials working for the government.

Zarif is expected to sign several contracts in the fields of oil, energy and maritime transport in his tour.

His previous Latin America tour in May, took Zarif to Brazil, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Venezuela and Cuba.