"Georgia can be one of the routes for exporting Iran's gas to Europe, while the North-South corridor and the Islamic Republic of Iran's railway network can link Georgian ports to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman," Rouhani said during the meeting in Tehran on Sunday.
He described Usupashvili's visit to Tehran as a turning point to start a jump in expanding relations between Tehran and Tbilisi, and said Iran is eager to expand its cooperation with Georgia on scientific, cultural and regional issues.
Noting that tensions between the neighboring states harm the regional stability and security, Rouhani said, "Respecting each others' geographical borders is the way for the establishment of peace and stability and if there is a problem, it should be settled through talks."
Usupashvili, for his part, underlined the broadening of ties between the two countries in recent years, and said, "Today, good cooperation has been established between Tehran-Tbilisi energy and economy ministries and we are determined to further expand such cooperation."
He also underscored Iran's significant role in the region, and said, "Given its close relations with the regional states, the Islamic Republic of Iran can play a positive role in the establishment of peace and security in the region, specially the South Caucasus, and you can consider Georgia as your partner in this area."
In September, President Rouhani and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in a meeting in New York voiced their enthusiasm for the further enhancement of Tehran-Tbilisi relations in different spheres.
In the meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, President Rouhani emphasized Iran's capabilities in energy, gas, water and transportation fields, announcing the country's engineering firms’ readiness to implement infrastructural projects in Georgia.
“Implementing the Persian Gulf-Black Sea connection project is one of the shared interests of the two countries,” added President Rouhani.
President Rouhani, meanwhile, asked for broader regional cooperation aimed at securing the objectives of the regional countries’ sustainable development and stability.
Garibashvili, for his part, referred to the long history of the two countries’ relations, arguing that Iran and Georgia can together multiply the level of economic, cultural, and the two nations’ relations several-fold.
He said that the implementation of such infrastructural projects as gas and water pipelines and transportation networks’ development can pave the way for a greater level of economic cooperation.
