“US forces are leaving Afghanistan while terrorism rages on there and this situation requires a greater effort by Iran, India and Russia,” Larijani said in a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Larijani said Iran and India share a common stance on combating terrorism, calling on the two countries to strengthen their cooperation in this field.
“Cooperation between Iran and India is very beneficial to both countries and very important for the establishment of regional peace, stability and security,” the Iranian lawmaker stated.
The Indian foreign minister, for his part, expressed his country’s readiness to cooperate with Iran in the fight against measures which promote terroristic mentalities anywhere in the world, particularly in West Asia.
Khurshid said regional powers should expand their cooperation and solidify their unity in order to resolve any problems, adding that Tehran and New Delhi should further improve bilateral relations to establish stability in the region.
He also praised Iran’s “principled and brave” stance on its nuclear energy program in the face of Western allegations and pressures, adding that Tehran has an “absolute right” to develop and use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Meanwhile, in a separate meeting between the Iranian Majlis speaker and Indian Parliament Speaker Meira Kumar on Wednesday, the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and key regional and international developments.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Larijani said he had held constructive talks with Indian officials, adding that Tehran and New Delhi enjoy very close views on establishing a developed region and cementing regional stability.
The Indian speaker, for her part, pointed to the commonalties between the two countries on important regional and global issues and said Iran and India are strategic partners in countering terrorism and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and South Asia in particular.
The Iranian Majlis speaker had traveled to India as the head of a delegation upon the invitation of Kumar and as a way of repaying her visit to Tehran in November 2011.
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