A senior lawmaker said firm international resolve is required to counter the scourge of terrorism plaguing Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq and Syria.
"By providing terrorist groups with financial and arms aid and strengthening them, the US and its regional allies have made a big mistake whose containment requires collective and international cooperation among all countries," Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said in a meeting with Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura in Tehran on Saturday.
Boroujerdi said Iran is earnestly engaged in fighting terrorism and said intelligence cooperation between Tehran and Tokyo can be helpful.
The legislator pointed to historical and deep relations between Iran and Japan and said last year's nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and major powers and the resulting relief from sanctions against Tehran have prepared more appropriate grounds for further expansion of Tehran's ties with Tokyo.
Boroujerdi added that the high level of interaction between the parliaments and governments of Iran and Japan should be used to improve relations in areas of common interest.
The Japanese minister said terrorist and extremist groups, including the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group, have no presence or support whatsoever in his country and called for international cooperation to fight them.
"The international community needs to make efforts to establish security in the Middle East region," he said.
Sonoura called for expansion of cooperation with Iran in scientific, nuclear and environmental sectors, along with good political and parliamentary ties.
The Japanese minister, who was in Tehran for a daylong visit, also held talks with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi earlier in the day.
