Tehran, Sept 13, IRNA – President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called for development of ties with Latin American countries including Brazil.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Brazil's Minister of External Relations Mauro Vieira.

Iran welcomes deepening and developing of relations with Latin American countries, the president added.

Iran attaches importance to relations with Brazil as a big country with a developing economy, he noted.

President Rouhani referred to the historical and friendly ties between Iran and Brazil and said that Brazil foreign minister's visit to Iran can open a new chapter in two countries' bilateral relations.

Brazil's Minister of external relations arrived in Tehran on Saturday to meet with Iranian high-ranking officials.

Vieira, in his two day visit to Iran, is to meet with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, President Hassan Rouhani, and Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Iran-Brazil bilateral trade has declined due to anti-Iran sanctions as it reached $1.444 billion in 2014, compared to the $2.367 billion in 2012.

Brazil has announced that implementation of the JCPOA will lead to new opportunities for developing bilateral trade and investments in both countries.

After having meetings with Iranian high-ranking officials on the ways of improving relations after the implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Brazil's minister of external relations is scheduled to take a trip to Lebanon.

By IRNA