IRNA - Member of Pakistan�s Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs strongly believes that Iran is a key player in establishing regional security and fighting terrorism.

In an interview with IRNA, Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi termed as a positive development the participation of Iranian Speaker Ali Larijani in Speakers� Conference in Islamabad.

�His participation played an important role in making the conference a success,� said the politician.

He said that Iran holds an important geo-political and geo-strategic location in the region and nobody can deny that.

Pakistan National Assembly has recently hosted 1st Speakers� Conference in Islamabad to discuss and address the challenges of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity. The conference was attended by Iran, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Russian Federation and Turkey.

Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, expressing his views, said that Ali Larijani is a dynamic and learned personality who is well respected across Pakistan and his participation in the conference is matter of honor for us. �I have an honor of meeting honorable Mr. Ali Larijani and he is such a dynamic personality,� he said.

The lawmaker added that Iran is not only a neighbor of Pakistan, but �we have close cultural, religious and historical ties with the Islamic Republic.�

He said that the Speakers� Conference played an important role in countering the bullying American policies towards the region. �The conference has given a strong message to the US that we will not accept their hegemony in the region and for this all countries are united,� the lawmaker noted.

The senator said the conference has also raised strong voice in support of Palestine denouncing the decision of Donald Trump to shift the US embassy from Tel-Aviv to Al-Quds.

He said that Pakistan desires peace in the region but for this �we will not bow to the American domination in the region.�

�Iran is a key player for regional peace, thus you cannot ignore them, Iran has to be and will be part of all regional forums for establishing durable peace in the region,� he said.

Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said that Iran is an important regional country and this is the corner stone of our foreign policy.

�We are all independent countries and have all the right to adopt independent policies without any dictation, we have to look for our own visions rather than looking for the interests of other countries,� the politician pointed out.