Rome, Jan 25, IRNA � President Hassan Rouhani said in a meeting with his Italian counterpart that Iran keen on evermore expansion of cooperation in post-sanctions era, including joint venture investment, transfer of technology and manufacturing export-oriented products.


'Iran and Italy have so much commonality that expansion of the level of cooperation between Tehran and Rome seems like an easy job to accomplish,' said President Rouhani in his meeting with President Sergio Mattarella.

'During the years of the past decade due to the unjustly and wrongly imposed sanctions the two countries could not use their possibilities and capabilities properly and it is now time to make up for that loss in light of cooperation and interactions to secure both nations' interests.'

'Iran and Italy can invest in various energy, industrial, mining, agricultural, scientific and cultural exchange and new technologies' fields and establish very broad cooperation in joint venture investments,' he said.

President Rouhani said that the roots of instability in the region come from hegemonic powers and that Iran is a stable and democratic country attaching great importance to improved relations with Europe and particularly with Italy under the new atmosphere.

The Italian president expressed pleasure with being the first European head of state to host President Rouhani after the formal implementation of the nuclear agreement, JCPOA, saying that this is another sign of deep friendship between the two nations.

'Italy is determined to boost its friendship and expand its cooperation with Iran,' added president Matarella.

The Italian president said that he shared President Rouhani's views on need for international campaign against terrorism, expressed satisfaction that the sanctions are terminated and expressed hope that Iran will play its stabilizing role in the region.

By IRNA