Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday met here with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the regional conference themed “Heart of Asia –Istanbul Process.”

The Tajik president’s official website says the construction of the Istiqlol Tunnel was recognized as one of the positive examples of the bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran.

The hope was reportedly expressed that the second phase of the Istiqlol Tunnel construction project will be completed by the 30th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence, which will be celebrated on September 9 this year.  

In connection with the aggravation of geopolitical and geostrategic competition, the growing threats and challenges to security and the situation in Afghanistan, it was found necessary to take joint measures to prevent terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.  

Iranian media reports say the two sides also discussed other areas of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas such as economy, trade, energy, industry, transportation, science and culture.

Iran Press says Iranian Foreign Minister also attended the official banquet of the President of Tajikistan along with other foreign ministers attending the Ninth Conference on the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process.

Press TV reports that earlier in the day, Zarif met with Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Executive Director of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Kairat Sarybay.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Dushanbe, on Sunday night to attend the Ninth Conference on the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process.

Currently, 15 countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are members of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process.