TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told Germany’s chief diplomat Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Tehran on Wednesday that terrorism poses a serious threat to all countries especially the European ones.

Rouhani said it is necessary to cut the sources of financial aid and arms supplies to terrorists.

Rouhani also urged Germany to expand ties with Iran in the fight against terrorism and helping establish peace in the Middle East region.

The president also said that the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 group – officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), can serve as a “successful model” to resolve problems through dialogue.

“The JCPOA, as a successful model, has prepared a very good condition in the international area for dialogue and interaction on other issues. We should try to utilize this win-win equation for the resolution of other regional issues,” Rouhani remarked.

Elsewhere, he called for expansion of long-term cooperation between Iran and Germany given the post-JCPOA atmosphere.

For his part, Steinmeier said that Germany is determined to expand ties with Iran in various spheres. Many German corporations are keen to invest in Iran, he added.

He also said extremism and terrorism should be eradicated.

Steinmeier visited Iran on Tuesday afternoon with the aim of calming down the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia and exchange views with Tehran officials on regional crises, particularly the conflict in Syria.

-----‘Saudi military approach will not produce result’

In a separate meeting with Steinmeier on Wednesday, Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said Saudi Arabia’s military adventures in the region will never reach a result as the U.S. military invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan did not achieve a success.

Saudi Arabia started a deadly war on Yemen since March 2015 which human rights organizations have described as instances of war crimes. It has also been providing arms to militant groups in Syria and Iraq. The Saudi kingdom has also deployed troops in Bahrain to suppress pro-democracy movement in the country.

Larijani said some countries in the Middle East behave in a way that fuels terrorism and exacerbates clashes.

The remarks by Larijani came as the UN is hosting a meeting between the Syrian government and opposition groups with the aim of ending nearly five years of civil war in Syria.

The meeting is a follow-up to a consensus made between the U.S., Russia and other world and regional powers in Vienna in November 2015 to start formal negotiations between the Syrian government and the opposition.

Iran has warned that some terrorist groups under the cover of opposition are trying to be represented in the Syria talks with a support by the Saudi kingdom.

Larijani told Steinmeier that the countries that attended the Vienna talks on Syria must abandon an instrumental use of terrorism.

Steinmeier expressed concern over the spread of tension in the region and lack of consensus to settle the crisis in Syria, noting that military approach will not reach a result.

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani also criticized selective approach in the fight against terrorism, saying it is “blight” to the war on terrorism.

Terrorism and extremism are the most serious threats against security in the world, Shamkhani said in his separate meeting with the German foreign minister.

Shamkhani also highlighted the importance of settling the Syrian crisis politically.

He also said that implementing the nuclear deal and removal of sanctions can build and boost trust between Iran and European countries.

Steinmeier also said Iran can play an important role in resolving crises in the region.

NA/PA