TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held separate meetings with various top officials on Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

In a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Rouhani said Iran welcomes Turkey’s investment.

Erdogan also called for closer cooperation with Iran and said Turkey will stand beside Iran to help the country counter U.S. sanctions.

‘Iran strongly supports its friends’

In a meeting with Bolivian President Evo Morales, Rouhani said that Iran stands beside its friendly countries and supports them and called for expansion of relations with Bolivia.

Elsewhere, Rouhani said that the international community should stand against the U.S. unilateralism.

For his part, Morales criticized the U.S. for interfering in independent countries’ affairs.

In a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Rouhani said that Tehran seeks expansion of relations with Havana.

“The two countries should use capacities to expand relations,” he said.

Rouhani also said that both the Iranian and Cuban people have the “spirit of resistance” which shows that the two nations have the same causes. 

Diaz-Canel said that expansion of economic ties with Iran is a priority of Cuba. President Diaz-Canel also said his country attaches great importance to countering the U.S. unilateralism.

Rouhani says Iran seeks greater interaction with IMF 

In a meeting with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, Rouhani said that Iran seeks to expand ties with the organization.

He said that the U.S. act in re-imposing sanctions on Iran is “illegal” and urged the IMF to support Tehran.

Lagarde said the IMF will continue cooperation with Iran.

‘Iran wants better future for Afghanistan’

During a meeting with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Rouhani said that Iran wants better and safer future for Afghanistan.

“Security of the regional countries, especially Iran and Afghanistan’s, are intertwined and the foreigners’ presence in the region is harmful to us,” he said.

Elsewhere, Rouhani highlighted the importance of fighting drug trafficking, because it is a source of financial help to terrorists.

Abdullah, for his part, called for expanding ties with Iran.

Rouhani also held a separate meeting with President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach.

NA/PA