Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says European countries must play a more active role in finding a political solution to thecrisis in Syria.
We are ready to hold more consultations with Europeans, particularly France, about the crisis in Syria, Zarif said in a meeting with President of French National Assembly Claude Bartolone in Tehran on Tuesday.
He strongly rejected the dichotomization of terrorism into good and bad forms anywhere in the world, saying, Today, the threatof terrorism is a global threat and we believe in [the need for] theinternational communitys more serious cooperation to remove this common threat.
The top Iranian diplomat further said Tehran regards Paris as an important partner in its economic relations and added that the two sides have common views on many regional issues.
The exchange ofpolitical and economic delegations between the two countries at high levels will lead to further expansion of cooperation and fosteringof more mutual understanding, Zarif added.
JCPOA implementation crucial to France: Bartolone
The top French parliamentarian said Paris attaches importance to the full implementation of thenuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.
He added that the JCPOA opened uppositive opportunitiesin Irans ties with othercountries, saying that several European and French banks have started cooperation with Iran.
On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA, which they had clinched on July 14, 2015.
Under the nuclear agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Bartolone also stated that Tehran and Paris have common views on regional issues, particularly the situation in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria and emphasized that the Syriacrisis must be settled only through political approaches.
West seeks to deepen crisis in Mideast: Shamkhani
The French MP also met with Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani on Tuesday, where the Iranian official saidsome Western countries seek to prolong and deepen regional crises.
Any remarkssuggestinga change in the political map and geographical borders of countries will intensify disputes and tensions, Shamkhani said.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani (R) shakes hands with President of French National Assembly Claude Bartolone in Tehran on September 6, 2016. IRNA[/caption]
He added that the prolongation and spread of the Syriacrisis would not be beneficial to the region and Europe, saying that France, as a country which has suffered from terrorism, must take more serious actions to stop the deliveryof military, intelligence and financial aid to terrorists.
The SNSC secretary emphasized that Syrian people are in dire need of humanitarian aid in areas controlled by Daesh Takfiri terrorists and al-Qaeda militants.
European countries refusal to take inrefugees and harsh treatment of refugeesare at oddswith human rights standardsand show a lack of responsibilityvis--vispeople plagued with the crisis of terrorism, the senior Iranian official said.
No let-up infight on terror: Bartolone
Bartolone, for his part, said France strongly believes in a relentlessfight against terrorism and is monitoring and counteringmethods used byterrorist groups to attract and recruitteenagers.
The top French parliamentarian said some countries seek to use the issue of human rights as a means to create limitations forIran and added that such issues can be resolved thorough dialogue.