New period in Hungary-Iran ties, says Orban in Tehran – UPDATE

Tehran, November 30 (MTI) – A new era has opened up in relations between Hungary and Iran, the Hungarian prime minister said in Tehran on Monday.

Viktor Orban had talks with several senior government officials and signed various bilateral agreements, such as one of avoiding double taxation and another on intensifying investments.

The premier was greeted with military honours in the Iranian capital on the first day of his two-day official visit.

The Hungarian delegation comprises several ministers and business leaders.

After talks with Iran’s first deputy president, Orban told a news conference that he welcomed Iran having “weathered” the period of sanctions and its return to the global economy and politics.

“It is for us Hungarians a special experience to be here in Tehran, the centre of a great civilisation,” Orban said. “We have come here to represent a culture of respect,” he said, adding that the region and its complex issues cannot be stabilised without Iran.

There are 1,116 Iranian students studying currently in Hungary who will be key participants in shaping Hungarian-Iranian relations in the future, Orban said. Cooperation in this area should be deepened, he said.

Eshaq Jahangiri, the deputy president, said that he trusted Orban’s current visit would boost economic ties which had waned considerably over the past few years. He identified energy, agriculture, science and culture as prospective areas of cooperation. He said Iran welcomes Hungarian companies seeking investment opportunities in his country.