Iran’s Rouhani urges serious int’l campaign against terrorism
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for a global fight against terrorism, expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness to cooperate with its neighbors, including Arab countries, in the anti-terror campaign.
President Rouhani made the remarks in an address to a public session of the Asian-African Conference (AAC) in Indonesia on Wednesday.
Rouhani warned against growing terrorism in large parts of Asia and Africa, saying extremists are using intelligence, arms and financial support from certain regional and international players to achieve their “illegitimate objectives.”
“This comes as their supporters are ignorant of the fact that the persistence of instability in volatile regions will further fuel insecurity in the world and in their own countries,” Rouhani said.
The Iranian president said that it is time that the world presented an action plan against violence and extremism, stressing the need for a “wise approach” to uproot terrorism.
Rouhani also proposed Iran’s plan on countering terrorism, which included respecting the lives of people regardless of religious, racial or ethnic issues, identifying and eradicating the roots of aggression and ending financial and intelligence support for terrorists.
“We should counter the expansion of terrorism by cutting off financial, political and intelligence support [for terrorists],” Rouhani said, criticizing certain countries for dichotomizing terrorism into good and bad forms.
The Iranian president also said that ongoing conflicts and tension, which are aggravated by military intervention, have led to humanitarian catastrophes in crisis-hit areas, including Yemen and Syria.
“We believe that lasting peace hinges on halting military intervention and creating the necessary conditions for understanding and dialog among all political groups,” he added.
Rouhani said that his country is resolute to use its regional and international potential to ensure security in the region and contribute to world peace, adding that in doing so Iran is ready to cooperate with its neighbors, including Arab countries.
Touching on Iran’s nuclear talks, Rouhani said that a final deal over Tehran’s nuclear program should guarantee the Islamic Republic’s right to use peaceful nuclear technology as well as the removal of all economic sanctions.
The Iranian president also pointed to sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, denouncing them as cruel and illegal.”
Iran and the six countries are to hold a new round of talks in the Austrian city of Vienna on Wednesday to start drafting a final deal.
Tehran and the P5+1 group — the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China plus Germany – had reached a mutual understanding on Iran’s nuclear program in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2.
