TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani held separate meetings with top Afghan, Pakistani, Russian and Turkish parliamentarians on Saturday, discussing relations and the fight against terrorism.

The meetings were held on the sidelines of the conference of speakers of parliaments of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey titled “The Challenges of Terrorism and Inter-Regional Connectivity”.

In his meeting with Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, Rouhani said Iran is ready to expand relations with Moscow in various spheres.

For his part, Volodin said that the friendly relations are developing.

‘Iran-Afghanistan ties should develop’

During his meeting with Afghan Parliament Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, Rouhani said it is essential that Iran-Afghanistan ties to develop and expressed Iran’s readiness for economic cooperation.

For his part, Ibrahimi called for expansion of relations.

In his meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Asad Qaiser, the Iranian president highlighted the importance of comprehensive development of relations between Tehran and Islamabad, especially in the campaign against terrorism. 

“Today, collective and more serious efforts to fight terrorism and extremism is very important,” Rouhani said.

Qaiser also said, “Pakistan is ready to interact with Iran in the fight against terrorism and development of regional security.”

Rouhani also discussed cooperation and relations with Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Binali Yildirim.

NA/PA