Salehi says Iran, Bolivia ties important

Ali Akbar Salehi hailed the positive climate of cooperation between the two states and called on the parliaments of both countries to expand mutual relations, a statement released by the Iranian foreign ministry said.

Salehi made the remarks at a meeting with visiting Bolivian President of the Chamber of Deputies Hector Arce in the Iranian capital on Wednesday.

The Iranian minister explained that the recent uprisings in the Middle East stem from the people's struggle to gain independence from US hegemonic rule.

Salehi said some Latin American states have independent governments unlike the past and cautioned the visiting official about potential plots by the US to overthrow democratically-elected governments in the region.

The Bolivian speaker, for his part, hailed Iran's role as a pioneer in confronting US imperialism and said Bolivia shares this trait with the Islamic Republic.

Arce met with Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani on Tuesday in the Iranian capital as well.

The Iranian Majlis speaker stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and convergence among independent countries and pointed that “economic cooperation and political consultations among independent countries should be developed in international circles.”

The Bolivian parliament speaker arrived in Tehran on Tuesday at the head of a delegation for an official four-day visit.

He is scheduled to further discuss improving Tehran-La Paz relations with other senior Iranian officials.