Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says security is currently the most important issue in the region, stressing that the Islamic Republic regards Pakistan’s security as extension of its own.

In a meeting with Pakistan’s Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani in Tehran on Monday, the Iranian president added that terrorism poses the main threat to the countries in the region.

“All regional countries must cooperate with each other to fight and eliminate terrorism,” he said.

He added that Tehran and Islamabad had the potential to cooperate and hold consultation on the fight against terrorism and the development of regional security.

Rouhani emphasized that Iran and Pakistan were strategically important to one another and expressed the Islamic Republic’s determination to expand relations with Islamabad in various sectors such as science and technology, culture and energy.

Iran, Pakistan share close stance on regional, global issues: Rabbani

The Pakistani Senate chairman, for his part, said relations between the two countries were based on religious, historical and cultural commonalities.

Rabbani, who had traveled to Iran to attend Rouhani’s inauguration for a second term, added that Tehran and Islamabad enjoyed a common stance on regional and international issues.

He stressed the importance of bolstering cooperation in economic, security, parliamentary and energy fields as well as in the campaign against terrorism based on common interests.

Pakistan would spare no effort to promote relations with Tehran, the top senator pointed out.

Iran, Zimbabwe must use potentialities to serve nations: Rouhani

Meanwhile, in a meeting with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, the Iranian president said Tehran and Harare must use their extensive potentialities to serve the interests of their respective nations.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) shakes hands with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, in Tehran on August 7, 2017. (Photo by president.ir)

“Like the Iranian people, the Zimbabwean people have fought and are fighting for their dependence,” Rouhani said.

Mugabe, for his part, said that his country sought enhanced relations with Iran, adding that Zimbabwe’s great potentialities could pave the way for the development of cooperation between the two countries.