Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Fander Falconi on Monday defended his country's diplomatic and commercial ties with Iran.
Describing Ecuador-Iran diplomatic ties as open and flexible, he told reporters that Ecuador has ties with all the countries in the world, "except those which definitely violate human rights in a proved way."
He said Ecuador will simply do not have a diplomatic representation with countries that are categorically proved of such violation.
Ecuador plans to open a commerce office in Iran by February, as well as other 13 similar offices in countries with fast-growing economies such as China, Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa.
Noting that there is a legitimate concern among some social sectors, Falconi said Ecuador has ties with Tehran just as many countries with
different ideologies maintain relations with Iran.
The United Sates has been criticizing the Iranian government for human rights violation and sanctioned companies for doing business with Iran.
In 2009, President Rafael Correa and his Iranian counterpart Mahmud Ahmadinejad visited each other's countries.