Iran Tracker

Nuclear:

Vietnam voted in favor of the UN draft resolution on the Iranian nuclear program in March 2008. Ambassador Le Luong Minh, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, told the UN Security Council that “we hold that [Iran’s] full implementation of the obligations under the NPT and their full enjoyment of the benefits that this Treaty brings about will contribute effectively to the maintenance of international peace and security and the social and economic development of States Parties to the Treaty.”[1] Vietnam has also spoken in favor of a diplomatic resolution of the conflict through the UN and IAEA rather than unilateral state actions. [2]

Economic Relationship:

In a meeting between the Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat and the Iranian Minister of Commerce Masoud Mirkazemi held in Tehran in December 2007, the two ministers agreed to expand their countries’ cooperation in trade, investment, culture, sports and tourism.[3] Bilateral trade between Iran and Vietnam reached $100 million in 2005 and $77 million in 2006, declining due to a reduction of rice exports from Vietnam.[4]  Vietnamese oil company Petrovietnam won a contract to explore for oil in the Danan block in western Iran, committing to at least $115 million in investment in a contract with the National Iranian Oil Company in March 2008. [5] According to the website of Vietnam’s embassy in Tehran, Iran suggested in February 2008 that the two countries should enhance cooperation in agriculture and fishing industries.[6] During an April 2009 meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Deputy Foreign Minster Doan Xuan Hung called for the expansion of economic cooperation between Hanoi and Tehran, especially in the field of gas and oil.[7] In May 2009, the Iranian Export Development Bank and Vietnamese Vietin Bank signed a letter of understanding, promoting commercial ties between Vietnam and Iran.[8] In June 2009, the Iranian Wagon Pars Company agreed to produce 200 passenger railway cars for the Vietnamese Railroad Company.[9]

In September 2009, Tehran and Hanoi established the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Association to enhance bilateral ties between the two countries.  The Vietnamese Deputy Chairman of the association said that “cooperation between the two countries in different fields, including agriculture, oil and gas, has bolstered so much that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries has increased from $30 million in 2003 to $250 million in 2008.”[10]  In the same month, an Iranian delegation traveled to Vietnam where the Iran Central Cooperative Chamber and the Vietnam Cooperatives Union signed a memorandum of understanding on boosting cooperative ties.[11]  During a November 2009 visit to Hanoi by an Iranian delegation, Iran and Vietnam agreed to set up trade council offices in both capital cities to boost economic cooperation.[12]

[Click here for more information on Vietnam’s business activity with Iran.]

Diplomatic/Military Relationship:

Iran and Vietnam opened embassies in one another’s capitols in 1990 and 1997, respectively, and in 2003 the two countries’ celebrated 30 years of bilateral relations.[13]  Vietnam and Iran have held high-level state meetings over the past few years and representatives from both countries have stated their government’s eagerness to expand political ties.  In a meeting with the Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, Iranian Vice President Parviz Davoudi said that Iran was willing to expand its political ties with Vietnam. Minister Phat agreed and said the meeting would help expand friendship and cooperation between the two countries. [14] Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Vietnam's outgoing Ambassador to Iran Nguyenv An Hy in November 2008 that Iran is interested in boosting bilateral relations with Vietnam. Ambassador Hy agreed and called for greater bilateral economic cooperation.[15] In an April 2009 meeting with Vietnam’s ambassador to Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that he “hope[s] the two countries' cooperation expands in the framework of mutual interests” and lauded Vietnam’s history of resisting foreign aggressors.[16]

In response to the October 2009 bomb attacks targeting Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Luong Minh reported on behalf of the UN Security Council stating “The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attacks that occurred in the border city of Pish in Iran on 18 October 2009.”[17]