Soviets, Iran Hold 1st Major Economic Talks Since 1979

NICOSIA, Cyprus — The Soviet Union and Iran on Tuesday conducted their first high-level economic talks since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

An Iranian leader said that improving relations with Moscow is one of Iran’s top foreign policy priorities.

Tehran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency, monitored in Nicosia, quoted Mines and Metals Minister Reza Ayatollahi as saying his country wants to expand ties with its neighbors, including the Soviet Union.

But the agency quoted Iran’s powerful Parliament Speaker, Hashemi Rafsanjani, as criticizing Moscow for supplying weapons to Iraq, Iran’s enemy in the Persian Gulf War, and for occupying neighboring Afghanistan.

The agency said Rafsanjani made the remarks when he met with Konstantin F. Katushev, the leader of the Soviet delegation at the talks.

But he stressed that Iran is “fully prepared to improve relations” with Moscow if the Soviets “lift impediments.”

Rafsanjani’s criticism dampened upbeat comments made by other Iranian ministers earlier when the 10th ministerial meeting of the Permanent Commission for Soviet-Iranian Economic Cooperation began after a six-year delay.