Call for Closer Italy Relations

President Hassan Rouhani in a message to Italy’s prime minister-designate highlighted the age-old friendly ties between Tehran and Rome, and called for expansion of relations. Rouhani sent a message to Paolo Gentiloni on Wednesday to congratulate him on his appointment as Italy’s prime minister, Tasnim News Agency reported. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always had friendly ties with Italy and the two countries have great capacities to promote cooperation in the political, economic and international arenas,” he said. The president hoped that during Gentiloni’s tenure, bilateral relations would grow to serve mutual interests in light of the political will of officials of the two countries. Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni was appointed prime minister on December 11, saying he had accepted President Sergio Mattarella’s request to form a new government. If successful, he will need the parliament’s approval to officially assume the office of prime minister. Gentiloni would replace caretaker premier, Matteo Renzi, who officially resigned after a crushing defeat in a referendum on constitutional changes he proposed.