South Korea and Iran have agreed to strengthen political and economic partnerships as Seoul's top diplomat made a highly rare trip to the Middle Eastern nation, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Saturday (local time). Yun also met with President Hassan Rouhani.

Yun is the first South Korean foreign minister to make an official visit to Iran in 14 years.

The two sides agreed that an "important chance" has been created for strengthening bilateral cooperation with the July 14 deal on Iran's nuclear program, said the ministry.

"President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif predicted that the international community's sanctions on Iran will be lifted soon and expressed hope that South Korean companies will make strides in doing business in Iran," it said.

Yun also told the Iranian officials that the nuclear accord between Tehran and world powers will have a positive effect on efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

Zarif said the Iranian nuclear deal is an example of the importance of diplomacy in handling a conflict. (Yonhap)