DUSHANBE, February 13, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Saturday February 11, President Emomali Rahmon congratulated his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

In his message of congratulations, President Rahmon, in particular, noted that Tajikistan has always attached significance to comprehensive relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious similarities are among significant factors involving Tajikistan and Iran in a common civilized space and laying the necessary foundation for more integration, Tajik president noted.

According to him, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Iran has increased five times over the past decade and Iran’s investments in Tajikistan’s economy have increased several times over this period.

Rahmon noted that the results of Ahmadinejad’s official visit to Tajikistan in September 2011 and agreements reached on the basis of high-level talks were evidence of the beginning of a new phase in relations between the two countries.

On February 11, Iran marked the 33rd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.  Iran’s national news agency, IRNA, reports that speaking to a rally in Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on February 11 that the Iranians have always played a determining role in the course of history and are set to definitely change the future of the world.

IRNA quoted Director General of Foreign Media and News Agencies of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Javad Aqajari as saying that 280 correspondents from 128 foreign media outlets and 1,500 Iranian reporters covered the nationwide rallies in the country marking the 33 rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution n Iran.