Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has called for world countries to seriously take into account the issue of violence and terrorism, warning that this phenomenon has now spread into Europe like a “contagious disease.”

“Today, the effects of violence and terrorism have also spilled over into Europe like a contagious disease. So, all should feel the danger in every region that violence and terrorism exist,” President Rouhani said in a meeting with Croatia's Parliament Speaker Josip Leko in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday.

He added that Iran currently plays an effective role in the campaign against terrorism, saying Tehran is ready to cooperate with all countries, including the European Union member states, in the fight against terror.

The Iranian president also stated that the Islamic Republic and Croatia have always maintained cordial relations, adding that the two countries have more appropriate grounds for improving economic cooperation after the conclusion of the July 14 nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia - plus Germany finalized the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) over Iran’s nuclear program in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

Under the JCPOA, limits will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic.

The Iranian president said, “Iran, as a very important country in the Middle East, and Croatia, as an important country in the Balkans can act as a bridge between the two regions.”

Necessity of enhanced Iran-Croatia ties

The Croatian parliament speaker said Tehran and Zagreb have great potential to boost economic cooperation.

Croatia regards Iran as a big power with high economic capacities not only in the Middle East but in the world, and is determined to enhance relations with the Islamic Republic, Leko stated.

He said the expansion of bilateral relations would play an effective role in establishing regional and global stability.

The top Croatian parliamentarian said his country attaches great importance to Iran’s stance on crises in regional countries, particularly in Iraq and Syria.