Iranian officials say they are working on a plan to launch a direct shipping line with Syria in the near future.

The announcement was made at a meeting between a visiting Syrian trade delegation and Iranian trade officials in Tehran.

Ali Kazemeini, the commercial attaché at Iran Embassy in Damascus, told the Syrian delegation that a direct shipping line could help increase the level of trade between the two countries that currently stands at about $1 billion per year.

Kazemeini said the governments of Iran and Syria are presently working on the plan and expressed hope that serious efforts to launch the maritime trade route will be taken in the near future.

Accordingly, the Syrian delegation told Iranian traders at the meeting – that was held at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce - that the country is eager to see a stronger presence of Iranian private sectors companies in Syria.

They also said Syria is ready to export a wide range of crucial commodities to Iran including olive, olive oil, cotton and textile products.

By Press TV