MNA � Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Mon. that conditions are ripe for further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the private sectors of Iran and Niger.

Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with visiting vice-president of Niger's National Assembly on Monday in Tehran.

During the meeting, Zarif noted the significance of having close relations with African countries for Iran�s foreign policy, saying there are ample opportunities for further expansion of cooperation between the two sides, which necessitates more efforts from the respective governments and parliaments to make it happen.

The Nigerian official, for his part, voiced sympathy with families of the victims of the recent floods in Iran.

He also voiced satisfaction with the level of development in the two countries' academic, political and parliamentary cooperation, through the efforts of the two countries� parliamentary friendship group.