President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyed Ibrahim Raisi received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin, who is in Tehran on a working visit, Tuesday (October 26) evening.

The Tajik MFA information department says the parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen it, and also exchanged views on the current situation in the region, including in Afghanistan.

The parties also noted the need to use the existing opportunities and potential to expand the economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran.

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran once again thanked President Emomali Rahmon and the people of Tajikistan their hospitality during his official visit to Tajikistan last month.

Meanwhile, IRNA says Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has highlighted cultural, economic, and political capacities in Tehran and Dushanbe and said that a new chapter has started in bilateral ties between the two counties and the two should take the opportunity for serving the nations' interests.

The two countries should also make use of the existing capacities to deepen cooperation, the Iranian president stressed.

Referring to the importance of cooperation between the regional countries, Iran and Tajikistan in particular, in bringing about peace and stability to Afghanistan, Raisi said that formation of an inclusive government consisting of all political and ethnic groups will help achieve the end.

Afghanistan needs an inclusive government to guarantee its security and halt bloodshed and fratricide, he added.

For his part, the Tajik foreign minister said that the recent travel of Iranian president to Dushanbe was a new chapter in bilateral relations.

He noted that his country is determined to upgrade the current level of cooperation with Iran.

Muhriddin reportedly also stressed the need to finalize implementation of mutual agreements.

In his remarks, the Tajik foreign minister referred to permanent membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and said that such an accession will help ensure regional peace.

Iran became a permanent member of the Organization in the SCO meeting in September.