Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has criticized Saudi Arabia for lack of cooperation following the deadly Hajj incident, urging the UN chief Ban Ki-moon to press Riyadh to fulfill its legal obligations.

“Unfortunately, the Saudi government does not cooperate enough in addressing the fate of the missing and transferring the bodies of those killed as well as the injured ones, and it is imperative that the UN secretary general remind the Riyadh government of its legal and human obligations,” Press TV quoted Rouhani as telling Ban in a meeting in New York on Saturday.

On Thursday, more than 1000 pilgrims were killed in a stampede outside the holy city of Mecca. The disaster took place during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

According to the latest reports, at least 169 Iranian pilgrims have so far been confirmed dead and 307 missing.

Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the deputy chief of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, suggested on Sunday that Iran should launch an investigation into the tragedy through international bodies. Also on Saturday Prosecutor General Ebrahim Raisi said Iran will take a legal action against Saudi Arabia at international courts.

Need to implement WAVE

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian president called on the UN chief to do his utmost to help implement an Iranian-proposed act aimed at fighting violence and extremism.

Addressing the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2013, Rouhani presented a set of proposals for a World Against Violence and Extremism (WAVE).

In December 2013, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to approve the act, which calls on all nations across the globe to denounce violence and extremism.

In the meeting, Rouhani also touched on the issue of terrorism in the Middle East which he said has displaced and endangered the lives of millions. The UN and big powers as well as regional countries shoulder a heavy responsibility in the crises in the region, the president noted.

Underlining the need for coordinated campaign against terrorism, Rouhani also called for an end to interference of certain countries in the region, including Yemen and Syria.

Rouhani said an immediate end to military intervention, delivery of humanitarian aid and start of intra-Yemeni dialogue without any foreign meddling are the key to ending the crisis and restoring lasting peace in Yemen.

He also said that Iran is ready to cooperate with the UN and regional countries to help restore stability in the war-torn Arab country which has been under Saudi air raid since March 26.

Ban, for his part, extended his condolences to Iran over the deadly Hajj incident.

Discussing the latest developments in the Middle East with the Iranian president, Ban also called for the Islamic Republic’s assistance in settling regional crises, including tensions in Yemen and Syria.

‘Iran prioritizes foreign investment’

Later on Saturday and in a meeting in New York with Iranian entrepreneurs residing in the United States, Rouhani said Iranian investors and entrepreneurs are given precedence as far as investment in the country is concerned.

“Iranian entrepreneurs, managers and investors both inside and outside the country always take priority when it comes to presence in different economic domains in the country,” Rouhani stated.

He said there is a very good potential for investment and entrepreneurship in Iran, touching upon the “special conditions” created for economic development in the country following the conclusion of nuclear agreement between Tehran and six world powers.

“Today, good opportunities have been created for further activities in the economic, scientific and industrial sectors, which should be utilized in the best way possible to boost the country’s progress,” said the president.

Referring to the unfair sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program, the president said the country made great achievements while under sanctions.

“One of the reasons behind the success in the [Vienna] talks was that the negotiators of the other side found out that Iran is able to revamp its economy [even] when under sanctions, and that they cannot gain concessions from us,” the president noted.

He said the Americans have committed “injudicious and unacceptable” acts against the Iranian nation over the past decades, namely the shooting down of an Iranian airliner and its support for the former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein during the Iraqi imposed war on Iran in the 1980s.

Nevertheless, the president emphasized, “The Iranian people have no problems with the American people and [they] respect one another.”

‘European Union has suffered the most during the sanctions time’

In a meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk in New York, Rouhani said the Islamic Republic has always maintained “good” relations with the European Union, urging both sides to revive and strengthen ties.

The EU followed an “incorrect and wrong” path by imposing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, Rouhani said.

“Members of the European Union have suffered the most during the sanctions time, and in the new (post-sanctions) era, we should repair and expand Iran-European relations in order to make up for the past,” he added.

He noted that Iran and the EU should draw plans for “considerable” development of mutual relations based on common interests following the nuclear agreement between Tehran and six world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Rouhani said “speedy and accurate” implementation of the JCPOA would play a very important role in improving cooperation, adding that all sides, particularly the EU, should work for the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

The Iranian president said the nuclear agreement would also help Iran and the 28-member bloc to cooperate and take positive steps to solve regional issues.

Tusk, for his part, stressed the importance of improving cooperation between Iran and the EU.

The European Council’s president said the lifting of sanctions against Iran means that the bloc has chosen the path of cooperation instead of confrontation, and meeting the two sides’ interests instead of tension.

He praised the nuclear agreement as an important achievement and the first step toward bolstering cooperation between the two sides.

He also urged the speedy and accurate implementation of the JCPOA despite all difficulties, adding that the final success of the agreement was made possible through determination of the two sides and in cooperation with the EU members.

MD/P