The Iranian government has given the green light to private business owners to forge trade ties with their American counterparts, an�official said on Saturday.�

Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture Gholamreza Shafei said the government had �advised� for initial connection between the two countries� private sectors before formal trade links could take shape.

�Unofficial connections could pave the way for establishment of joint chambers of commerce between Iran and America,� he told the Mehr news agency.

Shafei said the idea of setting up a joint chamber of commerce with the Americans is being mooted for 10 months now.

�We thought that the view of the establishment should be taken into account and Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture should not act independently.

�Hence, necessary consultations were made with the government and we were�advised that a connection should be initially forged between Iranian and American private sectors and strengthened in order to pave the way for establishment of a joint chamber and formal ties among traders,� Shafei said.

He�said unofficial links would set the stage for big gatherings where traders of the two countries could get in touch.

The American entrepreneurs, he said, have voluntarily already formed a joint Iran-US chamber of commerce but the formation has not been officially registered and it functions as a firm.

Shafei also said American businessmen were showing great interest in building trade relations�with Iran, but no official request has been made for face-to-face negotiations yet.

�They�are especially showing interest as they see most Western countries are sending big trade delegates to Iran.�

�The Europeans and Southeast Asian countries have no deficit as regards�US�technology and its quality of machinery. But trade ties with America are�important for Iran�s exports because our traditional goods have a favorable�market in that�country,� Shafei said.

By Press TV