Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

Caracas, (IANS) : Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Venezuela on Saturday to boost the two countries’ bilateral cooperation.

In a brief interview with the state-owned Venezolana de Televisión, Zarif said that the two countries’ central banks would sign an agreement to boost their joint cooperation, Xinhua reported.

“This agreement to be signed by the central banks of both countries will help to broaden bilateral relations and open the path of participation in our joint development,” he was quoted as saying.

Iran and Venezuela collaborated in the creation of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1960. They became closer after President Hugo Chavez came to power in Venezuela in 1999 and during the government of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013).

This is the last leg of Zarif’s Latin American tour, which also took him to Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Chile and Bolivia.