TEHRAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Djibouti have decided to resume diplomatic relations in line with "their peoples' interests and aspirations," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
In a statement on its website, the ministry added the decision was made following a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Djiboutian counterpart Mahamoud Ali Youssouf on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.
According to the statement, the Iranian and Djiboutian governments agreed to further develop their bilateral friendly relations on the basis of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty, equality, common interests and peaceful coexistence.
It added the two countries also decided to enhance bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including investment, trade, science, and technological innovation.
According to a separate statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website on Friday, the meeting between the two foreign ministers was held in "a friendly atmosphere."
Amir-Abdollahian voiced Iran's willingness to expand ties with Muslim and brotherly states, saying the country is ready to share its scientific and technological capabilities with Djibouti.
He also invited his Djiboutian counterpart to visit Iran as soon as possible.
The Djiboutian foreign minister, for his part, said his country and Iran have always had "good and constructive" relations in the past, expressing Djibouti's full preparedness to strengthen the bilateral ties.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining solidarity among Muslim states, saying it is necessary for Islamic countries to stand together under critical circumstances.
Djibouti cut diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric. ■
