Terrorism has roots in lack of global resolve to counter menace: Iran speaker

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has blamed global negligence for the rapid spread of terrorism across the world.

“The virulent issue of terrorism is the outcome of [both] the lack of a serious political will at the international level to counter it and the wrong approaches to fighting it,” Larijani said in a meeting with Slovenian President Borut Pahor in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Wednesday.

Larijani also hailed the advances made by the Iraqi forces against terrorists in their offensive to recapture the northern strategic city of Mosul.

Touching on the developments in Syria, he reaffirmed Iran’s support for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in the Arab country, stressing that democracy could not be promoted through arming and supporting terrorists.

The senior Iranian official also pointed to the Saudi war on Yemen, and said “coercive measures” against the Arab country have led to insecurity and instability in the region.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Larijani also said that the Iranian parliament welcomed the promotion of Tehran-Ljubljana ties based on mutual respect and interests.

The Slovenian president, for his part, described Iran as a key player in the region and the world, adding that his country attached significance to its relations with the Islamic Republic.

Pahor also expressed concern about the issue of terrorism, urging a collective and serious campaign against the scourge.

He expressed his country’s support for the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group, and expressed hope that the deal would open new horizons for the development of ties between Iran and Slovenia in different sectors, including economy and trade.

'Terrorism issue of common concern'

Also on Wednesday, the Slovenian president met and conferred with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

During the meeting, Zarif described terrorism as a common concern for all countries and called for an all-out fight against the menace.  

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said the Slovenian president’s visit to Iran opened a new chapter in bilateral ties.

Zarif said Iran and Slovenia enjoyed great potential to boost cooperation in different sectors, including energy, banking, tourism and education.

Iran and Slovenia share viewpoints and concerns on regional and global issues, the Iranian foreign minister said in conclusion.

For his part, the Slovenian chief executive described his talks with Iranian officials as "very good".

He also welcomed the further promotion of ties with Iran and said Slovenian businessmen and entrepreneurs were eager to cooperate with Iranian private and public sectors.

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