London, Feb 5, IRNA � Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has stressed redefinition of interests in the region in order to attain security.


He made the statement during a speech followed by question-answer session in the Chatham House think-tank during which he reiterated that in the global community, no country can set up walls around itself in a bid to live in security.

He termed the Iran nuclear deal an example of the redefining of common interests and said, 'In the past, west was calling for a total halt in the activity of Iran's centrifuges and this approach did not bear any results in the former round of talks.'

'However, in the new round of negotiations, we decided to take steps within (our) joint interests, and as a result we reached a conclusion,' he added.

Saying that the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers is an invaluable asset, he suggested that its approach has to be generalized to other regional crises.

To a question on recent tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Zarif replied, 'Saudi Arabia is required to redefine the situation in region and its interests similarly as Iran managed to turn its nuclear programs to a common issue and not an issue for completion between two rivals.'
Asked on Tehran, London ties, Zarif said the prospects of ties between Iran and UK are positive. 'Both countries can cooperate on regional issues,' he added.

As to the limitations posed by US sanctions as a barrier for enhanced banking relations between Iran an Europe, the Iranian foreign minister said that US secretary of state has assured him that there is no restriction for legitimate interactions between banks.

By IRNA