Iranian Speaker Urges Closer Regional Cooperation in Counter-Terrorism
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani reiterated the country’s resolve to continue its anti-terrorism campaign and called for further efforts to boost cooperation among regional countries in the fight against the phenomenon.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the speaker of the Council of the Republic of Belarus, Mikhail Myasnikovich, in Tehran on Monday, Larijani said some issues on terrorism were raised in his meeting with the Belarusian counterpart earlier in the day.
“We had common concerns in this area,” he said, calling for efficient regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
He further described the relations between Tehran and Minsk as “cordial and lasting” and said the relationship has remained so in various eras.
The Belarusian parliamentarian, for his part, praised the Islamic Republic’s achievements in various economic, social and scientific fields and said the two countries’ cooperation will continue at the bilateral and international levels.
The visit to Iran by Myasnikovich comes against the backdrop of a new wave of interest in ties with Iran after Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France, and Germany) in July 2015 reached an agreement on Tehran's nuclear program and started implementing it in January 2016.
The comprehensive nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), terminated all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran.
Back in May 2016, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov voiced his country’s willingness to develop bilateral relations with Iran in various economic and political areas.
Speaking at the 13th session of Iran-Belarus Economic Commission in Minsk, Kobyakov lauded the long record of cooperation between two countries and the resulting achievements.
He also highlighted the enthusiasm in Eastern Europe for investment in Iran’s diverse areas of industry, including manufacturing trucks, mining and road construction.
