President Hassan Rouhani held meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and regional problems as well as bilateral relations on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
In his talks with May, Rouhani stressed that the crux of cooperation between Iran and Europe is the joint effort to implement and consolidate the nuclear deal.
"Fortunately, the two sides are determined to uphold the international agreement and have adopted a firm political stance in this regard," he was quoted as saying by the president's official news portal.
Iran and the six world powers, namely China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States plus Germany, signed an agreement in 2015 on Iran's nuclear program referred to as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled his country out of the deal last May.
The "illegal" withdrawal from the international agreement has aroused "surprise and opposition from the world community", Rouhani said.
"We must try to come up with a practical framework to preserve and fully implement the deal, particularly in economic sectors."
Rouhani drew attention to the reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency indicating that Iran has fulfilled all its commitments under JCPOA and emphasized the need for a balanced compliance with the accord on the part of all sides of the multilateral agreement.
The British premier highlighted the necessity of preserving all terms of the JCPOA as well as Tehran-London relations.
"Britain welcomes increased cooperation with Iran in all sectors, including economy and energy," she said.
Rouhani noted that expanding banking collaborations between the two states will help develop mutual trade and investment.
May offered condolences over the recent terrorist attack in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, in which 24 people were killed and dozens were wounded.
"The UK condemns all aspects of terrorism and regards it as vital to combat the phenomenon," she said.
Iran's president appreciated the sympathies and called for collective action against the scourge.
He pointed to regional issues, particularly the Yemen issue, reiterating that Iran's approach is aimed at reducing tension in the region and world.
Rouhani said there is no way to resolve the Yemen crisis but by holding inter-Yemeni negotiations.
May asserted that it is only possible through political solutions to put an end to the sufferings of the impoverished Arab nation.
Both sides called for global efforts to step up the delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-stricken people of Yemen.
Yemen has been grappling with a civil war since 2015 between the Houthi forces, politically backed by Iran, and forces loyal to the ousted government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which receives military support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
In his meeting with the French president, Rouhani underscored the need to resist unilateralism to uphold the nuclear deal and expressed willingness to strengthen Tehran-Paris relations at national, regional and international levels.
Macron pledged that his country will endeavor to preserve the nuclear pact.
He, too, offered sympathy over the Ahvaz terrorist attack, underlining that interaction and dialogue with Iran, as an influential country in the region, are essential to combating global terrorism.
"We need to work together to stand against terrorism and unilateralism in the world," he said.
