Time ripe for forging closer ties with Malaysia: Iran president

President Hassan Rouhani says the atmosphere that has ensued Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers makes for a good opportunity to expand bilateral ties with Malaysia.

The Iranian chief executive made the remarks upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the Malaysian capital on Friday on the second leg of a three-leg tour of Southeast Asia.

The trip has so far take him to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and has been scheduled to conclude in Thailand.

Rouhani further referred to Malaysia as an important and advanced Muslim country in the region, saying Iran has always had good relations with the Malaysian government and nation.

“The Islamic Republic has always stressed the importance of the enhancement of relations with the people and administration of the great country. In this trip, we seek to further enhance and deepen bilateral relations.”

The nuclear deal was signed in July 2015 between Iran and the six powers –Russia, China France, Britain, the US and Germany. It effectively established Iran’s right to use peaceful nuclear energy and envisaged the removal of nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Rouhani was later officially welcomed by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak at the presidential palace in Putrajaya, located 25 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur.

While leaving Tehran for Hanoi, Rouhani said the Malaysia visit aims to repair the bilateral ties, which have unfortunately suffered a decline in recent years.

The ultimate goal of the trip, he said before boarding the plane, was attending a summit of the inter-governmental organization of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), which gathers 34 Asian nations, in the Thai capital of Bangkok.