TEHRAN -- Head of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Norwegian Parliament, Thorbjorn Jagland, here Thursday called for expansion of parliamentary, diplomatic and economic ties with Iran.

In a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, the two sides discussed Tehran-Oslo ties as well as regional issues, including those relating to Iraq as well as the Middle East developments.

Jagland pointed to Iran's important position in the region and expressed happiness over the expansion of relations between the Islamic Republic and the European Union.

Economic cooperation between the EU and Iran has turned a new chapter in the two sides' constructive interaction, Jagland said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Norwegian official expressed concern over the deteriorating human situation in the Palestinian lands.

Kharrazi welcomed expansion of parliamentary, economic and trade cooperation between Tehran and Oslo, especially in the area of investment and modern technology transfer.

He said U.S. "unilateral policies and its unconditional support for Israel" as well as the "inhuman behavior" of the Zionist regime's hardline Prime Minister Ariel Sharon were "regrettable".

The United States is following a "bullying policy" in the region, Kharrazi said, adding Washington is trying to overshadow Palestinian developments by aggrandizing Iraqi threats, reported IRNA.

The Iranian minister stressed the need to take proper and fundamental measures against world terrorism and refrain from double standard in dealing with the menace.