TEHRAN -- Former Italian prime minister Romano Prodi has underlined the importance of talks between Iran and Europe in line with their common interests.

In a meeting with MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi in Tehran on Monday, the two sides discussed the importance of Iran-Europe ties and the active participation of Iran in the international stage.
Iran plays an important role in regional developments and maintaining stability and peace in the Middle East, Prodi said, adding the Islamic Republic plays a leadership role among regional countries.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he said Iran has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, noting that the misunderstandings between Iran and the West should be cleared up through dialogue.
The veteran politician who headed the European Union from 1999 to 2004 went on to say that Iran is ready to take important steps in technological and scientific fields as its previous generations have passed through hard times.
Boroujerdi, for his part, said Iran attaches special importance to its ties with Italy among other European countries.
On sanctions imposed against Iran, he said the fact that Europe follows the U.S. policies has harmed all European countries.
He said all reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear issue have shown that there has been no diversion in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activities.
Boroujerdi, the chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, dismissed claims by Washington and Israel that Iran is seeking a clandestine nuclear program, saying atomic weapon has no place in Iran’s defense strategy.
He added that the West has not lived up to its commitments toward Iran; however, he insisted on Tehran’s position that Tehran is ready to expand ties with European countries based on mutual respect.
Prodi arrived in Tehran on Sunday to attend a conference on “Europe, Financial Crisis and Future Expectations” hosted by the Foreign Ministry