by Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff
Hassan Rouhani slams U.S. president's criticism of Iran as a terror-sponsoring state and a threat to regional stability • Rouhani says Iran welcomes cooperation with other nations on all levels to bring stability to the Middle East.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
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Photo credit: AP  |
Iran welcomes cooperation with other nations
on all levels to bring stability to the Middle East, President Hassan
Rouhani told his French counterpart on Monday, hours after U.S.
President Donald Trump lambasted Iran again during his tour of the
region.
In a telephone call, Rouhani told France's new
president, Emmanuel Macron, that he was hopeful Europe would not copy
Trump's stance against the Islamic republic.
While visiting Saudi Arabia -- Iran's arch foe
-- on Sunday, Trump singled out Iran as a key source of funding and
support for terrorist groups in the Middle East, sending a tough message
the day after Rouhani won a second presidential term.
On Monday, in Jerusalem, Trump said that
shared concern about Iran was driving Israel and many Arab states
closer, calling Iran a real threat in the region.
"The Islamic republic is ready for cooperation
in all levels with other countries, including France, to fight against
terrorism and to resolve the Syrian crisis," Rouhani told Macron,
according to Iran's state news agency, IRNA.
The French leader had called to congratulate Rouhani on being re-elected in Friday's presidential vote.
"We should bring peace and stability back to
the region. We hope Europe does not fall into the trap of countries that
promote their wrong interpretations of the region," Rouhani reportedly
told Macron.
France, which is at odds with Iran over the
crisis in Syria, took one of the hardest lines against Iran during the
negotiations for a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers in 2015,
but it has been quick to restore trade ties.
France has said it backs Trump's call to
strengthen the monitoring of the deal, but that it is committed to
implementing it, including the lifting of sanctions.
Asked earlier on Monday whether it agreed with
Trump's call to isolate Iran, the French Foreign Ministry said it would
"work toward developing political dialogue that should be part of a
constructive approach with regard solving regional crises."
Rouhani said at a news conference on Monday that stability cannot be achieved in the Middle East without Iran's help.
Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=42597
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