TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia cannot hide its crime of executing Sheikh Nimr by cutting ties with Iran.

Late on Sunday Saudi Arabia announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Iran under the pretext of attack on its embassy in Tehran late on Saturday by dozens of protestors, who had been enraged by the execution of pro-democracy Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr.

Decapitation is not the way to respond to criticism, Rouhani said during a meeting with Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen in Tehran.

Rouhani expressed hope that the European countries would fulfill their commitments in the area of the human rights regarding the Saudi government’s act.

However, the president said Iran is determined to hold good relations with the neighboring countries.
“Negotiation” and “diplomacy” are the best ways to resolve differences among the countries, he added.

He also said Iran and the European Union states can cooperate in the fight against terrorism.

The first step in fighting terrorism is cutting financial aid to the terrorists, the Iranian president said.

The second step, Rouhani suggested, is to employ all intelligence and operational capacities to counter terrorism.

Elsewhere, he said that Islam totally opposes terrorism and slammed commotion created by some media outlets against Islam.

He also said that Iran is ready to cooperate with Denmark in helping the immigrants.

Expansion of ties between Iran and Denmark benefits the both countries’ people and has positive effects on boosting international peace and stability, he said.

He added Iran is determined to expand ties with the northern European countries especially Denmark.

For his part, Jensen said Denmark welcomes expansion of economic ties with Iran.

He also highlighted the importance of the two countries’ cooperation in fighting terrorism.

He expressed regret over terrorist acts under the banner of Islam.

------ CAPTION: Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen meets President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran

NA/PA