Iran Calls for Collective Efforts to Counter Terrorism across the World
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani calls for collective efforts to counter terrorism across the world, saying covert sponsors of terrorists must be identified to stop the flow of aid to terrorists, Press T.V reported.
“In the first step in the fight against terrorism, particularly Daesh, countries sponsoring terrorism and Daesh must be confronted through the identification of the behind-the-scenes elements so that they will not provide this terrorist group with modern arms and financial aid,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius in Tehran.
He stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and smuggling of narcotics.
“Determination and cooperation of all countries are necessary in the fight against terrorism, and certain countries must understand that support for terrorists and using them to advance political and regional objectives is not a good choice and will yield no results,” the Iranian president added.
He also called for the expansion of economic cooperation between Tehran and Vilnius, particularly after the implementation of last July’s nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, dubbed as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
After Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA on January 16, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran, in return, has put some limitations on its nuclear activities.
“Iran and Lithuania enjoy extensive potential to expand and deepen common cooperation and should open a new chapter in their relations by making a proper use of such potentialities,” Rouhani said.
He noted that the two sides can also cooperate in different sectors, including modern technologies, academic and research centers as well as tourism.
The Lithuanian foreign minister, for his part, expressed his country’s keenness to bolster cooperation with Iran in all sectors.
Linkevicius said Lithuania enjoys great capabilities in the fields of nano- and bio-technology and can share its experience with Iran.
The top Lithuanian diplomat is in Tehran at the head of a delegation to hold talks with senior Iranian officials about possible ways to strengthen cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, trade and culture.
The latest security situation in the region and across the world and the campaign against terrorism and Daesh are top on the agenda of discussions between Iranian and Lithuanian officials.
R.S