Iran to France: Time to Make Up for Past
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani told his French counterpart that the time has come for the two countries to make up for the opportunities they have missed in the past decade to strengthen bilateral ties.
“Over the past 10 years, the two countries have missed a lot of opportunities for deepening and expanding relations, and now the time has come to make up for the past,” Rouhani said in a telephone conversation with French President Francois Hollande on Thursday.
He was making a reference to the opportunity for closer engagement with Iran following a landmark nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 finalized the text of a lasting nuclear deal that would terminate all anti-Iran sanctions after taking effect. The United Nations Security Council also passed a resolution afterwards, endorsing the comprehensive accord.
Elsewhere in the conversation, President Rouhani said the implementation process of the nuclear talks will be guaranteed if the parties remain committed to their undertakings.
“It is necessary for the Group 5+1 members to push for implementing the next steps of the nuclear deal,” he added.
The Iranian president also touched on the scourge of terrorism in the Middle East, saying Iran pursues establishment of peace and stability in the region and is ready to cooperate with other countries, such as France, to that end.
“Iran calls for the cooperation and effort by the European countries, including France, to counter terrorist groups in Syria, Iraq and Yemen,” President Rouhani pointed out.
For his part, Hollande hailed enhancement of relations with Iran, as in oil and energy sectors, civil aviation industry, academic interaction and tourism industry.
He also voiced France’s readiness to forge partnership with Iran in the fight against terrorism.
Hollande said his foreign minister is going to visit Iran with the aim of cementing Tehran-Paris relations and devising a roadmap for stronger bilateral ties.