TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani has said that Iran is ready to cooperate with other countries, specifically Australia, in fight against violence, extremism and terrorism.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Jolie Bishop in Tehran on Saturday.

Causes of terrorism should be indentified and countered in order to root out the problem, Rouhani suggested.

“We should do something that all the governments and nations respond to terrorism and oppression against the innocent people, regardless of ethnic and religious issues, similarly and in the right time,” Rouhani stated.

Commenting on the conflict in Yemen, he said that the crisis should be resolved politically.

Iran is ready to hold consultation and interaction with “regional and extra regional governments” to stop “bloodshed” in Yemen, he added.

The Iranian president also highlighted the importance of Iran-Australia relations.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani stated that a nuclear agreement between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) will benefit the whole world.

Bishop pointed to Iran and Australia’s common approach in supporting the Iraqi government against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), saying that the current Iraqi government needs international support to defeat the terrorists.

She also said that a nuclear agreement will open a new chapter in Iran’s ties with the other countries.


-----‘Lifting of all sanctions is essential after agreement’

In a separate meeting with Bishop on Saturday, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that removal of all “cruel and illegal” sanctions against Iran after reaching a nuclear agreement is essential.

There will be no “justification” to remain sanctions given Iran’s behavior, he added.

Shamkhani described the new U.S. sanctions as a “clear sign” of the country’s opposition to Iran’s progress in areas of technology.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he stated that Iran and Australia play “effective” role in international arena.

He highlighted the importance of expanding relations in economic sphere and fight against terrorism.

NA/PA