Rouhani Urges Firm, Collective Anti- Terror Bids

 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has renewed a call for taking collective measures to tackle terrorist groups, saying lack of a serious fight against terrorism will lead to its spillover into other regions including Europe.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is concerned about instability [caused by terrorists] in some countries from North Africa to a number of countries in the Middle East,” Rouhani said in a meeting with the visiting Estonian Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand in Tehran on Sunday.

He added that efforts to establish stability and security in these countries can help improve stability in the entire region and across the world.

 Rouhani said Iran welcomes enhanced relations with the European Union, adding that the two sides can strengthen cooperation and hold consultation to maintain regional stability and security.

“The expansion of all-out cooperation between Iran and the European Union has special importance in settling complicated regional and international disputes,” the president said.

Rouhani further noted that Iran and Estonia enjoy great potential to deepen bilateral cooperation on issues of common interest.

Estonia willing to boost Iran ties

The Estonian foreign minister, for her part, said Iran plays a leading regional and international role and expressed her country’s willingness to expand relations with the Islamic Republic in different sectors.

She added that Tehran and Tallinn are faced with new opportunities to strengthen cooperation in a bid to serve the two nations’ interests.

Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Kaljurand is in Tehran on a two-day visit to hold talks with Iranian officials about ways to expand mutual ties and the latest regional and international developments. Earlier on Sunday, she held talks and attended a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

 Military might, spirituality go hand in hand, says Khamenei

On the other hand, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the Iranian Armed Forces are required to enhance their “military might” along with “spiritual and religious motivations.”

“In the Islamic Republic establishment, the main task [assigned] to the Armed Forces is to defend national security boundaries; therefore, the operational capability and spiritual motivations of these forces must be upgraded from day to day,” Ayatollah Khamenei told a group of senior military commanders in Tehran on Sunday.

“The Armed Forces are not at the disposal of a specific person or specific party and faction, but belong to the whole nation and country and must be a safe bulwark for people and protector of national and public security,” the Leader added. 

The Leader added that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the only military power that is “efficient” and “ideologically-driven” and operates in a country with “political independence.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also said Saudi Arabia’s army has failed to realize its objectives more than a year after it invaded Yemen in full force.

The Leader said some armies in the world have been established only for protecting ruling regimes.

“Such armies apparently enjoy high operational and military might, but in the battlefield they indulge only in militarism, irrationality and ruthlessness,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said the Iranian Armed Forces “feel obligated” to upgrade their military and deterrence might and particularly “upgrade ballistic missile stockpiles and develop missile bases.”

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