TEHRAN -- Iran is taking significant steps towards expansion of economic ties with Tunisia, said Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki in Tunis on Friday.

Mottaki arrived at the North African country on Thursday for a two-day official visit. In a meeting with his Tunisian counterpart Abdelwaheb Abdallah, Mottaki said “Iran and Tunisia enjoy close official ties and have great potential for economic cooperation.” Abdullah underlined the two countries’ economic cooperation, adding “Tunisia can be a distributor of Iranian products to the other regional countries.” The Tunisian minister also defended Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s nuclear program is purely for civilian application and not for military purposes, Abdallah said, adding “It is our duty to defend Iran as a peaceful country in the international arena.”