Iranian foreign minister arrives to brief Bangladesh leaders on July nuclear deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has arrived in Dhaka to brief Bangladesh’s leadership on the nuclear deal that the world powers struck with his country.

Once implemented, the July deal will see the decade-old sanctions that crippled the oil and gas-rich Iran’s economy lifted in exchange for long-term curbs on its nuclear programme.

Zarif’s special flight from Beijing touched down at Shahjalal International Airport at around 12:30am on Wednesday.

His wife and high officials from the Iranian foreign ministry are accompanying him.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque received him at the airport, a senior official told bdnews24.com.

This is his second round of visits in this region after tours to India and Pakistan in August after the nuclear deal was clinched in Vienna.

In Beijing on Tuesday, he sought to work closely and said, once the agreement was implemented, a lot of Chinese companies would have more chances to do business with Iran.

China is the biggest buyer of Iran’s oil.

Before his arrival, the foreign office in Dhaka said during his day-long visit, Zarif would call on President Md Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and meet Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.

He will fill them in about the nuclear agreement with the five veto power holders of the UN Security Council – China, France, Russia, UK, and the US – plus Germany.

He will also discuss mutual cooperation in different sectors, the foreign ministry said.

Iran is grateful to Bangladesh for its support during the economic embargo and Ambassador Abbas Vaezi said in Dhaka on Sep 1 Iran survived with the help of its “brotherly countries like Bangladesh”.

He said Tehran was ready to reciprocate the favour in many ways and pointed out energy and power sector cooperation were the potential areas of cooperation.

Vaezi suggested Bangladesh discuss with India to get gas from a pipeline, once it was rolled out from Tehran via Pakistan.

He said Tehran could buy jute, clothes and agricultural products from Bangladesh, and export oil, natural gas and petrochemicals to it.

Foreign Minister Zarif is expected to meet the press on Wednesday before leaving Dhaka in the evening.