Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani has warned against the spread of terrorism in the region, calling for enhanced relations among Iran, India and Russia to counter the ominous phenomenon.

"U.S. forces are leaving Afghanistan while terrorism rages on there and this situation requires a greater effort by Iran, India and Russia," Larijani said in a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid in New Delhi on Wednesday, Press TV reported.

Larijani said Iran and India share a common stance on combating terrorism, calling on the two countries to strengthen their cooperation in this field.

The Indian foreign minister, for his part, expressed his country's readiness to cooperate with Iran in the fight against measures, which promote terrorist mentalities anywhere in the world, particularly in West Asia.

Khurshid said regional powers should expand their cooperation and solidify their unity in order to resolve any problems, adding that Tehran and New Delhi should further improve bilateral relations to establish stability in the region.

He also praised Iran's "principled and brave" stance on its nuclear energy program in the face of Western allegations and pressures, adding that Tehran has an "absolute right" to develop and use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Meanwhile, in a separate meeting between the Iranian Parliamentary Speaker and Indian Parliamentary Speaker Meira Kumar on Wednesday, the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and key regional and international developments.

Kumar said that Iran is an important strategic partner in combating terror, maintaining peace and stability in the region.

The Indian Parliamentary Speaker highlighted the fact that there is broad commonality of views between the two countries on major global issues. India considers Iran as an important strategic partner in combating terror, maintaining peace and stability in Middle East and South Asia, more importantly in Afghanistan. She hoped that the two countries would help in evolving a conducive environment towards resolution of complex issues facing these regions.

Lauding the cooperation between India and Iran in Chabahar Port Project, Kumar expressed the opinion that the project underlines convergence of their vision for the stability and prosperity of the region.

She exhorted the two nations to tap the full potential of bilateral trade. She also called for greater cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science and technology, including laying of pipelines in sea for export of Iranian gas to India.

In a meeting with Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari, Larijani Indian-Iran joint investments in energy sector would go a long way in ensuring energy security for India, besides providing New Delhi an expanded role in the region.

He also emphasized that there was a vast scope for enhancing cooperation between the two countries in areas of agro-products and scientific research.

Larijani arrived in New Delhi from Mumbai on Tuesday. He is in India since February 24 on a five-day official visit which is taking place upon an invitation from the Parliamentary Speaker Kumar and as a way of repaying her visit to Tehran in November 2011.