Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a trustworthy and reliable trade partner for the European Union and Spain in particular. According to Information and Press Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Salehi made the remark in a meeting with the new Spanish ambassador to Tehran. In the meeting, the Spanish ambassador submitted a copy of his credentials to Salehi. Expressing satisfaction with the existing friendly relations between Iran and Spain, Salehi said grounds for consolidation of economic relations between the two sides are prepared. Time is ripe for Spain to further broaden economic cooperation with Iran in oil, gas and energy sectors, he said. The new Spanish ambassador, for his part, expressed his satisfaction with his presence in Iran and said he will do his best to deepen relations between the two countries. Launching a Spanish-language TV network by the Islamic Republic of Iran prepares grounds for expansion of cultural ties between the two nations, he said.