Iran And Jordan Seek Trade, Water And Religious Tourism Cooperation
AMMAN (AFP) - Iran and Jordan held talks on ways of bolstering cooperation in trade, religious tourism and water schemes, trade and industry ministers of both countries reported saying on state television on Tuesday.
The two sides particularly looked into ways Iran could contribute to the construction of a strategic water supply project to pump water from southern Jordan to the parched capital, Amman.
Iran could contribute to that project in exchange for the import of phosphate and potash from Jordan, Iranian Industries Minister Gholamreza Shafei said through an interpreter.
Iranian diplomats and sources at the water and irrigation ministry earlier said Iran could provide Jordan with equipment to build the conveyance scheme in exchange for phosphate imports and the export to Jordan of chemical products.
Libyan leader Muhammad Gaddafi has pledged his country's technical and financial support for the $650 million project to pump water from the Disi aquifer in southern Jordan to Amman.
Jordanian Industry and Trade Minister Wassef Azar confirmed Iran's interest in taking part in water schemes in Jordan adding that the Disi project was "open to [contribution by] all our brothers."
Shafei also praised a recent Jordanian decision to scrap visa requirements for Iranian tourists.
"Jordan is the land of prophets and a visit to religious sites in Jordan is of significant importance to every Muslim," Shafei said.
Jordan - the first territory to which Islam spread outside the Arabian Peninsula - hopes to attract up to 300,000 Iranian visitors annually to Muslim religious sites, according to the official Petra news agency.
These include the tombs of many of the companions of Prophet Mohammed (saw) who died in Jordan in some of Islam's key battles and were buried here.
Most prominent among the tombs is that of Jaafar bin Abi Taleb, cousin of the Prophet (saw) and elder brother of Ali who is the most revered figure for Shiite Muslims after the Prophet (saw) himself.
Iran is predominantly Shiite Muslim while Jordan is mostly Sunni Muslim.
Iran and Jordan started two days of trade talks Tuesday expected to culminate with a series of agreements.
The two countries renewed diplomatic ties in 1991, which broke down following the 1979 Iranian Revolution amid complaints from Tehran that Amman supported the late Shah.
