The UN chief called for a bigger Iranian role in achieving the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Syria and Yemen, stressing the need for lasting solutions to regional crises.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged increased Iranian efforts to facilitate the resumption of peace talks on Syria and Yemen.
He was speaking in a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, according to the president.ir.
Ban touched on the July 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which went into effect in January to remove international sanctions on Iran in return for temporary restrictions on its nuclear work.
He said all sides of the deal should make all-out efforts to keep each other committed to their obligations.
Iran’s compliance with terms of the deal has been repeatedly confirmed by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, but Iran complains that the other parties, especially the US, have not let it reap the full economic fruits of the deal.
Rouhani said the deal is a symbol of the power of dialogue in settling disputes in the international arena, saying the UN secretary-general should protect the pact with “independent and realistic” reports on its implementation.
According to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 endorsing the nuclear deal, Ban should present a report on the implementation of the resolution to the UNSC every six months.
Iran was critical of the latest report in July, saying it was biased and based on insufficient information.
Rouhani said Iran will continue to play its constructive role in Syria, saying that fighting terrorism, protecting sovereignty and integrity of the country and addressing humanitarian concerns are high on the agenda.
On Yemen’s crisis, the president said the UN should help save the lives of Yemeni people by not giving in to pressure to ignore blatant human rights violations in the country.
Roadmap for Japan Cooperation
Rouhani also met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Speaking in the meeting on Wednesday, Rouhani said Iran is ready to develop a 10-year roadmap for economic cooperation with Japan.
“The ground is prepared for Tokyo to invest in Iran’s energy sector like in the past,” he said, adding that Iran welcomes closer cooperation with Japan in technology, health, science and environment fields.
The president said to expand collaboration, Japanese banks should make more efforts to help implement bilateral agreements and finance joint projects. Abe said Japan seeks to develop ties with Iran in various fields and wishes to take economic relations to the highest level.
The Japanese premier said Tokyo supports closer interaction between private firms of the two countries.
Rouhani attended the 71th annual session of the UN General Assembly and spoke at its annual gathering of world leaders, the General Debate, which is underway from September 20-26.
In his fourth appearance at the event since he took office in August 2013, Rouhani discussed bilateral, regional and global issues in separate meetings with the leaders of the UK, Turkey, France, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, Norway, Sweden, Bulgaria, Iraq, Pakistan and Greece.
