Iran Eyes Stronger Italy Ties


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a congratulatory message to Italy’s incoming president, hoped for enhancement of relations with the European country.

President Rouhani on Sunday congratulated his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, who was elected president by the parliament.

Rouhani expressed the hope that determination of the two countries’ officials would result in the expansion of relations between Tehran and Rome during Mattarella’s tenure.

Italian lawmakers elected Mattarella, a constitutional court judge and veteran center-left politician, as president on January 31.

Mattarella, 73, who is little known to most Italians, got 665 votes. He was sworn in for a seven-year term, taking over from 89-year-old Giorgio Napolitano, who resigned in January.