Any effort to restore or maintain sanctions would undermine the recent nuclear accord between Iran and major powers and erode trust between the two sides, a senior security official said.
Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani made the remark in a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders in Tehran on Monday in reference to efforts by US Republicans to reimpose the sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program that are expected to be lifted in a few months under other pretexts, IRNA reported.
Calling for expansion of cultural, economic and political cooperation between Tehran and Amsterdam, the SNSC chief said, "The two sides have agreed to hold further consultations to help defuse regional crises, check terrorism, boost energy exports [from Iran] and develop business ties."
Migrant Tragedy
According to Shamkhani, the current conditions in Europe and West Asia, particularly the migrant crisis triggered by regional conflicts, call for addressing the challenges through logic, mutual respect and diplomacy.
Amsterdam's presidency of the EU is expected to pave the way to overcome such challenges, he noted.
The Netherlands will be holding the rotating presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2016.
Emphasizing the need for efforts to mitigate the migrant tragedy unfolding in the Mediterranean and Europe and ensure stability in host states through addressing the underlining causes, including the spread of terrorism, the official said, "The most effective approach to deal with extremist groups is collaboration with governments that are engaged [in the fight against] such groups and have assumed a key role in combating terrorism."
On the July 14 nuclear accord between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, Britain, the US and Germany), Shamkhani said, "The agreement will be honored as long as the two sides are committed to fulfilling their obligations."
He stressed that the countries which impose unilateral economic sanctions on other states in fact deprive their own nations of business opportunities.
The top Dutch diplomat said, "The accord is expected to open new vistas for restoration of Tehran's relations in various areas with the West, in particular the Netherlands."
Koenders believes terrorism is a global menace and some countries' financial assistance to such groups will not only aggravate the situation in the crisis-hit Middle East but deepen insecurity all over the world.
The Dutch foreign minister also met Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani late on Sunday.
Larijani called for exploitation of the untapped potential for promotion of bilateral cooperation in such areas as energy, renewables and irrigation projects.
Congratulating Iran on the conclusion of the nuclear pact, Koenders said the landmark agreement indicates the fact that diplomacy can win over threats in today's world.
