Italy Can Contribute to Final Iran Nuclear Deal: President
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s president hailed Italy as one of the country's most important trade partners, saying Rome can help secure a final nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers.
“Italy has played a positive role in fruitfulness of the (nuclear) negotiations in the past, and given its important position at present, it can contribute to the achievement of the comprehensive agreement on the nuclear issue between Iran and the Western sides,” said President Hassan Rouhani.
He made the comments in a Monday meeting with Italy’s new ambassador to Iran, Mauro Conciatori.
Pointing to the great international enthusiasm for investment in Iran, President Rouhani said Italy can also take the opportunity to broaden activities in Iran given its “extensive economic and industrial” ties with the Islamic Republic in the past.
The Italian envoy also voiced Rome’s willingness to “act as a catalyst” for progress in the negotiations between Iran and the West.
Once a final deal is clinched on Iran’s nuclear case and the sanctions are lifted, the potential for economic growth and production will be unlocked, added Conciatori.
Iran and the G5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) are in talks to hammer out a final deal to end a decade of impasse over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.
On November 24, 2013, the two sides signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Based on the interim deal, the world powers agreed to suspend some non-essential sanctions and impose no new nuclear-related bans in return for Tehran’s decision to freeze parts of its nuclear activities.
In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 in the hope of clinching a final deal.