TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that interference by foreigners to create division among nations is the root cause of the crises in the Middle East.

“There is no way but establishment of long lasting peace and security to achieve bright future, wealth and progress in the regional countries and all should help” to realize such a goal, Rouhani said during a meeting with Cypriot Parliament Speaker Demetris Syllouris in Tehran.

Rouhani also expressed regret over the fact that millions of innocent people in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya have been displaced and live in difficulty.

Commenting on bilateral relations, he said that expansion of ties can link the Middle East to Europe and Africa. 

The president also called for expansion of economic relations between the two countries’ private sectors.

There is no impediment to increase relations and cooperation between the two countries, Rouhani added.

For his part, Syllouris said Cyprus is determined to expand cooperation with Iran as a “great” and “civilized” country.

He also said that a “logical” and “political” solution is required to settle the crises in the region.

‘Parliamentary capacities should be used to expand ties’

In a separate meeting with the Cypriot official on Tuesday, Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior foreign policy advisor to the Leader, said the two countries should use parliamentary capacities in order to expand relations.

He also said that Cyprus can play a “positive” role in helping settle crises in the Middle East region.

Syllouris also called Iran an important country in the world.

The officials also discussed banking relations between the two countries.

NA/PA