Iran plays key role in settling regional woes: Italy

The Italian official made the remarks in a Wednesday meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Italy’s capital, Rome, where both sides discussed various issues of mutual interests, including regional crises, terrorism and extremism.

Praising the friendly Tehran-Rome ties, Grasso further expressed hope that nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 over Tehran’s nuclear energy program would lead to a final agreement and pave the way for broader cooperation between Tehran and Italy.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – plus Germany have been holding talks to reach a final nuclear agreement over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

Zarif, for his part, stressed the dangers of terrorism and extremism and said the Islamic Republic had warned against the spillover of such scourges from the onset of the Syria crisis over three years ago.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif referred to Iran-Italy bilateral cooperation, saying Italy’s rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) can provide an ideal opportunity for more contacts and consultations between Tehran and Rome.

Grasso and Zarif further underlined the need for further enhancement of bilateral parliamentary ties.

The two officials also discussed ways to expand mutual cooperation and political consultations regarding different regional and international issues.

The top Iranian diplomat arrived in Rome on Wednesday at the invitation of his Italian counterpart Federica Mogherini.