All-out efforts needed to combat terrorism: Iran parliament speaker

Iran’s Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani said in Baghdad on Saturday that all-out efforts are needed to help those countries suffering from terrorism.

“We should help countries which are suffering from terrorism to get out of the crisis,” Larijani said upon arrival in the Iraqi capital to attend the 11th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC).

The Iranian official stated that participants at the meeting will exchange views about “hot topics,” including the crisis in Syria.

He said regional issues such as terrorism and ways to combat it will also be discussed in the meeting.

Noting that the PUIC meeting will be an opportunity to find solutions to the existing problems in Muslim countries, Larijani added, “The meeting will also be an opportunity for parliament speakers of Muslim countries to discuss regional relations, mutual ties and other important issues.”

On the sidelines of the meeting, Larijani said, he would hold talks with Iraqi officials on “important issues” linked the two countries’ interests.

The Iranian Majlis speaker said Tehran has always supported the Iraqi people in crises they have faced over the past two decades and is currently mulling the expansion of mutual relations to help Baghdad settle its problems.

Forty countries have so far expressed their readiness to attend the 11th PUIC session in Baghdad. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have announced that they will not participate in the meeting.

The PUIC was established in Iran on June 17, 1999, with its head office located in Tehran. The 10th session of the PUIC was held in Turkey in January 2015.