South Korea's first vice minister of foreign affairs expressed his country's keenness and firm resolve to expand wide-ranging ties with the Islamic Republic.
Cho Tae-yong, who is on an official visit to Tehran heading a delegation, made the remarks in separate meetings with two senior officials on Saturday, IRNA reported.
In a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Morteza Sarmadi, the Korean official said his government has included in its foreign policy agenda a plan to strengthen relations with Iran in all areas.
He expressed South Korea's readiness to invest in areas of mutual interest once a final accord is clinched between Iran and the west over Tehran's nuclear activities and said, "(The agreement) will open a new chapter in relations between the two countries."
Pointing to the growth of extremism in the world, Cho said no country is immune to terrorism, as terrorist groups such as the so-called Islamic State are recruiting even from the countries geographically located far from the Middle East.
The Iranian diplomat said Tehran-Seoul relations should not be restricted to commercial fields, urging bilateral collaboration and consultations on regional and international issues such countering expansion of terrorism and extremism.
Sarmadi said the two countries have maintained good political relations over the past 53 years, though the relations have had their ups and downs. He also expressed hope that bilateral ties would improve in the near future.
Fields of Coop.
In a meeting with Chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the South Korean official said the aim of the delegation's trip to Iran was to hold consultations on how to increase collaboration in mutual fields of interest.
Cho said Seoul is interested in collaborating with Iran in such fields as culture, arts and sciences, calling also for greater parliamentary and political cooperation.
Pointing to the activities of IS in the region, he urged an international campaign to counter the terrorists. He also said the East Asian country supports humanitarian aid to the war-torn Syrian nation and has had its contribution to the effort.
The lawmaker described relations with South Korea as "good" and "deep", saying the past relations between the two countries set the stage for increased interaction between the two sides in the future.
Boroujerdi noted that the two countries have close relations at government and parliamentary levels, calling for moves to help enhance commercial, economic, cultural and scientific ties, among other areas.
Referring to the mounting tensions in the region, he appealed to the international community to take collective measures to deal with terrorists, especially IS.
He denounced the recent terrorist attacks in Kuwait, Tunisia and France by IS, saying, "Such moves are indications of the rise of terrorism worldwide and its transformation into a potential danger to international peace."
Pointing to the Saudi-led airstrikes against Yemen, Boroujerdi said the impoverished country is experiencing a "human catastrophe," adding that the killing of innocent women and children is condemned by any given logic.
