TEHRAN – Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said that his country is ready to help Iran protect its environment.

The Netherlands is ready to lend Iran a helping hand in environmental issues such as water crisis which is no longer limited to Iran but to the globe, Koenders said in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Sunday.

“Agriculture, ecotourism and industry,” are of a few areas that the top Dutch diplomat enumerated his country is seeking to cooperate closely with post-sanctions Iran.

The top diplomat also said that the Netherlands is committed to “broaden political, economic and cultural relations and ties” with Iran, particularity in the area of gas and oil.

At the international level, the Dutch minister expressed interest to collaborate with Iran on migration, human rights and improvement of peace and stability in the Middle East.

He also appreciated Iran’s “productive” role in Syria and Lebanon.

The visit to Iran by Koenders is the first of its kind by a Dutch foreign minister after some 14 years.

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Zarif, for his part, said that Iran and the Netherlands are determined to improve relations in all areas, although due to unfair sanctions on Iran, the level of trade had dropped.

The two countries are ready to pick up extensive political and economic relations including in the gas and oil sector which is a traditional trade from Iranian side, Zarif said.

He also expressed Iran’s readiness to interact with its partners in the European Union in various political, economic and cultural fields.

Referring to the Iran nuclear deal, Zarif said the international community should focus on implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and lift sanctions on Iran as the “best guarantee” for the victory of diplomacy.

“The agreement can set an example for other countries.”

When asked about Tehran-Washington relations, the Iranian foreign minister said that there is still lack of trust between the two countries. “After the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nothing has been done in the U.S. to help restore the confidence between the two governments.”

Zarif expressed hope that the U.S. would seriously live up to its obligations in the implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran to help resolve the mistrust