FNA- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with Portuguese Ambassador to Iran Joao Jose Corte Real on Tuesday called for the expansion of Tehran-Lisbon trade ties.

During the meeting in Tehran today, Zarif and Corte Real explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating of mutual cooperation in different areas, specially in economic and trade fields.

During the meeting, Zarif said that Iran's private sector has the needed capacities for boosting cooperation with Portuguese companies.

The Portuguese ambassador, for his part, said that he will do his best during his mission in Iran to boost trade exchanges with Iran.

In a relevant development in mid-May, Tehran and Lisbon agreed to boost their mutual cooperation in the air aviation industry and transportation by establishing direct flights between the two capitals.

The issue was raised in a meeting between Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi and Portuguese State Minister for International Affairs in Lisbon.

Qashqavi said that in their meeting, the two sides exchanged views on implementation of agreements and starting direct flights between Tehran and Lisbon.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister said that Iran and Portugal will begin exchanging visits by high-ranking officials soon.

In January 2015, Iran and Portugal agreed to boost their mutual cooperation air transportation.

"The heads of the civil aviation organizations of Iran and Portugal have conferred on mutual cooperation in air transportation and establishing direct flights between Tehran and Lisbon," Deputy Head of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran Mohammad Khodakarami said.

He noted that in their meeting, the two sides exchanged views on implementation of agreements and starting direct flights between Tehran and Lisbon.

According to an air transportation agreement signed by Iran and Portugal in November the two sides agreed to increase the number of their weekly flights to 7.

"A 25-article air transportation agreement has been signed between Iran and Portugal," Head of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran Alireza Jahangirian said at the time.

The MoU which was an effort to remove the obstacles standing in the way of air transportation between the two countries was endorsed by the two countries' aviation chiefs.

"Iran Air, the national flag carrier, and Portugal's Euro Atlantic have been mentioned as designated airlines in the MoU," Jahangirian added.