TEHRAN - Uruguayan foreign minister has said that Uruguay resisted the pressures exerted by former U.S. President George W. Bush administration on the country to reduce ties with Iran.

Luis Leonardo Almagro Lemes made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran on Sunday.
“After Bush delivered a speech against Iran in Uruguay, a U.S. delegation visited our country (to pressure it over its relations with Iran). But despite all efforts and pressure, Uruguay is seeking to promote its ties with independent governments and nations like Iran,” Almagro stated.
Although Iran is currently the target of criticism from certain Western countries, Montevideo is keen to promote its cooperation with Tehran, he added.
The foreign minister of Uruguay also hailed Iran’s efforts to promote social justice and human rights.
Ahmadinejad said, “The future belongs to independent and justice-seeking nations, so the two nations (of Iran and Uruguay) will stand by each other forever.”
The two countries should promote their cooperation and utilize their great potential to help promote a new world order, he stated.
Ahmadinejad added that both states are opposed to injustice and oppression and this has brought the Iranian and Uruguayan nations very close to each other.
Uruguayan foreign minister also held a meeting with Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Alaeddin Boroujerdi on Sunday.