Vietnam Bills Economic Cooperation as Cornerstone of Ties with Iran

Vietnamese President To Lam said economic cooperation should become the main pillar of relations with Iran, calling for expanded collaboration in culture, education and tourism sectors between Hanoi and Tehran. The remark was made as Iran's newly appointed Ambassador to Vietnam Akbar Qassemi presented his credentials to Lam at the presidential palace in the capital on Monday. During the meeting, Lam proposed measures to strengthen bilateral ties, saying economic cooperation should take priority while broader exchanges in cultural, educational and tourism fields should also be expanded.

According to IRNA, Lam described his 2023 visit to Iran as productive and said it had opened a new phase in bilateral relations. He added that Hanoi was ready to deepen cooperation with Tehran in areas including trade, technology, science and nanotechnology. The Iranian ambassador, for his part, said Tehran was prepared to expand consultations and establish expert working groups to promote political, economic, parliamentary, commercial, technological, cultural and tourism cooperation. Qassemi also said Iran's geopolitical and strategic position had been significantly strengthened since March 2026, creating new opportunities for cooperation between Tehran and Hanoi across multiple sectors.

As reported by IRNA, Lam offered condolences over the martyrdom of Iran's Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and expressed sympathy with the Iranian government and people. Lam praised Iran's ancient civilization and historical heritage, and noted that both countries shared experiences of resisting foreign domination and valued national resilience. Qassemi said Iran's martyred Leader held a favorable view of Vietnam's history and people, often citing the country's struggle for independence and its emphasis on self-reliance as an example of national perseverance. Lam also welcomed the Islamabad memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, expressing hope that the process would produce more comprehensive results and contribute to greater regional and global stability. - Iran Daily