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Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran Jalal Kalantari took pride in relating to guests “the rebirth of the revolution” during the 28th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Ambasador Jalal Kalantari hosted Iran’s national day with cocktails at the Manila Polo Club on Feb. 11 along with other diplomats from the embassy. Department of Foreign Affairs officials and members of the diplomatic community were also there to offer a toast to the ambassador and the Iranian community in the Philippines.

The Iranian ambassador described Feb. 11 in 1979 as a glorious victory, adding that day “is a sweet reminiscent of rejecting internal dictatorship and foreign dominance and achieving goals set for the revolution as freedom, independent and Islamic republic.”

In his speech before his colleagues in the diplomatic community, Kalantari said he believed that privatization is important in his country’s development plans. “Thanks to the said developments, the Islamic Republic of Iran has turned into a country that exports many agricultural and industrial products to world markets. These items are no longer confined to traditionally exported hand woven carpets, pistachio and saffron. A wide range of agricultural, industrial, technical as well as engineering services have gained access to international markets,” he said.

He also stressed that Iranian people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran are determined to exercise their inalienable right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes while continuing the interaction and legal and technical cooperation with the IAEA. Diplomatic measures and channels are always on the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s agenda and standoff with European Union and Group of 5+1 should be settled by negotiations.

Iran and the Philippines’ bilateral relations, Kalantari said, is “fruitful.” He cited the official visit of House Speaker Jose de Venecia to Tehran last year that has improved diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“Although trade balance has always been in favor of the Islamic Republic of Iran but at the same time the statistics indicates that the exports of Philippines to Iran has drastically increased in the recent years,” he told his audience.

Guests partook a sumptuous array of Middle Eastern and international cuisine as they celebrated the Iran’s important day in its history.