"The implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will help Iran and South Africa to expand their mutual cooperation," Whitehead said on Sunday, addressing Joint Iran-South Africa Meeting in Tehran.

The South African ambassador said that Iran is an important economic power in the Middle East and it has access to the Central Asian and Eurasia countries as well as Silk Road.

In relevant remarks in October 2016, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari and South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane in a meeting in Pretoria underlined the need for the further expansion of bilateral ties.

During the meeting in the South African capital, Jaberi Ansari and Nkoana-Mashabane explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating mutual cooperation in different areas.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister briefed Nkoana-Mashabane about the results of Iran-South Africa Joint political committee, and said, "Iran is ready to broaden cooperation with South Africa in all areas."

Nkoana-Mashabane, for her part, pointed to the good relations between the two countries, and said that South Africa is ready to host the 13th round of joint commission between the two countries before the upcoming visit of President Hassan Rouhani to Pretoria.

In April 2016, Tehran and Pretoria in a joint statement issued at the end of South African President Jacob Zuma's official visit to Iran underlined the need for fast growth in expansion of ties and mutual cooperation.

Iran and South Africa underlined broadening their bilateral ties in different areas in their joint statement.

The two sides also agreed to expand mutual cooperation in regional and international areas.