News - Middle East: Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has called for the expansion of economic ties between Iran and Uzbekistan, stressing the need for a speedy implementation of the cooperation agreements his government signed with Samarkand in September.

"The development of political and economic relations between Iran and Uzbekistan in the past year has made the situation different in comparison to the past but the existing capacities require more efforts to promote ties," Raeisi said in a meeting with Chairman of Uzbekistan's Legislative Chamber Nuriddinjon Ismailov in Tehran on Saturday.

He added that the 18 agreements and memoranda of understanding, signed between the two sides when he visited Samarkand in September, would greatly help elevate relations.

The president also emphasized the effective role that increased cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two nations can play in helping bilateral ties.

"The exchange of experience between the parliaments of Iran and Uzbekistan will be an effective and positive step towards development of relations between the two countries," he stated.