TEHRAN – During his visit to New York, President Hassan Rouhani met with a number of top world leaders and discussed a range of issues including bilateral relations and the nuclear deal Iran and six world powers struck in 2015.

Meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Bin Mohamad on Wednesday, Rouhani referred to the friendly and brotherly relations between Iran and Malaysia and stressed deepening relations to serve the interests of the two nations, the president’s website reported.

He hailed the steps taken to cement relations between the two countries in different fields such as energy, joint ventures, and scientific cooperation.

President Rouhani met with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session in New York on September 26, 2018.

Also on Wednesday, Rouhani met with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of Italy, and described Iran-Italy relations long-standing and strong. “Iran welcomes deepening Tehran-Rome relations in all fields of mutual interest,” Rouhani noted.

The president also held a meeting with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, during which he underscored the need for the global community to work hard in protecting the nuclear pact as an important international agreement and complying with Resolution 2231 of UN Security Council.

In a separate meeting with President Alain Berset of Switzerland on Wednesday, Rouhani said countries around the world supporting and protecting the nuclear deal, are not just supporting Iran, but supporting an agreement endorsed by the UN Security Council and peace and security in the Middle East.

Meeting with President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, he stressed, “Today, the greatest responsibility of Iranian and Venezuelan officials is to work harder to develop relations and cooperation to serve the interests of the people and strengthen economies of the two countries.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Rouhani sat for talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 26, 2018.

Japan, Iran agree to uphold Iran nuke deal despite U.S. pullout

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Rouhani agreed Wednesday to uphold the 2015 nuclear deal even after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in May, The Mainichi reported.

Abe and Rouhani discussed the reinstatement of sanctions by the United States against Iran and a U.S. demand that countries halt oil imports from Tehran by Nov. 4, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

The official declined to reveal details of the talks, especially when Japan has been asking for a waiver during negotiations with the United States.

Tehran accounts for about 5 percent of Tokyo's total crude oil imports.

In the meeting held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Rouhani sought Japan's cooperation in ensuring the implementation of the nuclear agreement, and Abe responded that Japan continues to support it, according to the official.

Abe was quoted as telling Rouhani that Iran's constructive role is indispensable for ensuring stability in the Middle East.

Abe and Rouhani, meanwhile, agreed to cooperate in denuclearizing North Korea, according to the Japanese official.

Abe said Japan will continue to extend assistance to Iran in the fields of the environment, medicine and disaster risk reduction.

MH/PA