Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran is ready to cooperate with other countries to tackle terrorism as a global challenge.
“Peace and stability in the region are important to us and we are ready to make use of our utmost potential to fight terrorism as a global challenge,” Rouhani said in a meeting with former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Tehran on Tuesday.
He added that terrorism has undermined security and stability in the Middle East while extra-regional countries, including Germany, are also affected by the consequences of this insecurity, mainly the influx of refugees.
Enhanced Iran-Germany relations after JCPOA
The Iranian president also said Tehran and Berlin must use their capacities to improve relations following last July's conclusion of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“In the run-up to the JCPOA implementation, grounds have been prepared to further enhance the level of relations with Iran and we should act in a way that all the negotiating sides would feel satisfied with the agreement,” Rouhani added.
He once again reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to its obligations under the JCPOA should the six global powers respect their commitments.
The JCPOA, reached between Iran and the P5+1 – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany – in the Austrian capital of Vienna on July 14, 2015, puts limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the removal of all economic and financial nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s undeniable role in regional peace
Schroeder, for his part, said the implementation of the JCPOA and the future removal of sanctions against Iran would open a new chapter in Tehran-Berlin relations.
He also added that Iran plays an undeniable role in promoting peace and stability in the region.
The former German chancellor arrived in Tehran Sunday night at the head of a delegation for a three-day visit. On Monday, he held talks with senior Iranian officials including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi.