Iran, Algeria on track to cancel visas amid growing ties
Iran and Algeria are on their way to canceling normal visas for citizens, signing numerous agreements that outline their growing ties.
Relations between Algeria and Iran are on the right track, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Saturday, with an agreement signed on the issuance of diplomatic visas and an expected one regarding normal visas.
Iran and Algeria are canceling the need for diplomatic visas, and they are on the way to cancel the need for normal visas.
دیدار و گفتگوی وزرای امور خارجه جمهوری اسلامی #ایران و جمهوری #الجزایر pic.twitter.com/Mx4yJGRSY4
— 🇮🇷 وزارت امور خارجه (@IRIMFA) July 8, 2023
Iran's diplomat also stressed that the country was still working on the neutralization of sanctions through dialogue and diplomacy.
Amir Abdollahian also touched on an agreement on accelerating cooperation in scientific, technological, knowledge-based companies, agriculture, medicine and medical equipment, industry, and mining fields during a joint press conference with his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf.
Iran's top diplomat also lauded Algeria for not allowing the observer membership of the Israeli occupation in the African Union, saying it has always supported Palestine and played an important role in the return of Syria to the Arab League.
He also revealed that Sudan and Iran are reopening their embassies, with Attaf praising the progress Iran has been making in regional and international arenas.
Ties between the two countries are great and have the capacity for further expansion in economic circles, the Algerian top diplomat added.
Talks between the counterparts included negotiations on the Ukraine war, the Palestinian cause, and problems in Yemen and Libya.
"We are satisfied with the positive relations between the Arab countries and Iran and the historic agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia with the mediation of China," he added.
Moreover, he hope that the rapprochement would lead to better collaboration on regional challenges.
In a phone call that took place in April, Algerian and Iranian presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Ebrahim Raisi discussed bilateral relations and scheduled respective visits to either country.
"During the phone talks, the presidents discussed the bilateral relations and agreed to support and reinforce them in political and economic sectors in the interest of the two peoples. The sides … agreed to exchange visits in the future," the statement read.
Iranian-Algerian relations have been constructively developing over the past years.
Back in 2015, the two countries signed five cooperation agreements to boost bilateralism.
The two countries are also brought together by the fact that they are both OPEC+ members.
Iran's Energy Ministry said earlier in the year that Iranian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab held talks in Doha with his counterparts from Iran, Bolivia, Russia, and Kenya. The statement also added that all parties praised their bilateral ties with Algeria and discussed investment opportunities and cooperation in the energy and mining fields.