Tasnim � Iran�s Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Islamic Republic is determined to enhance its trade ties with Africa and Latin America.

�Iran�s foreign policy is balanced and active, and the number of trips made by the foreign minister to African and Latin American countries as well as Asian nations is noteworthy,� Seyed Abbas Mousavi told Tasnim on Monday.

He added that Tehran has plans to use the capacities available in African countries as well Latin and South American nations and increase its trade ties with them.

Mousavi also said that the ministry�s economic deputy has taken great strides over the past years to boost the country�s economy and facilitate trade activities with other nations.

On July 16, the spokesman also said the Islamic Republic attached great importance to enhanced trade ties with neighboring countries.

�The expansion of economic cooperation with neighbors has been among Iran�s main priorities,� he said.

He pointed out that Iran has 15 neighbors which can help it circumvent the sanctions and make them �ineffective�.

�Our country is currently experiencing an economy without oil (revenues). Therefore, the expansion of economic cooperation with neighbors as well as the contribution of the private sector to reduce economic pressures is important more than ever,� Mousavi said.

In April 2019, the United States said it would stop waivers for countries buying Iranian oil, in an attempt to push Iran�s oil exports to zero.

Efforts by the Trump administration to isolate Iran politically and economically began with Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in 2018.