Roundup: Iran remains bound to nuclear commitments

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said here Saturday that his country has been and will remain bound to its nuclear-related commitments.

Iran will implement the nuclear agreement with powers reached in July and expects that the other party will also fulfill its obligations about removing sanctions against Tehran in a "timely, accurate and complete" manner, Rouhani made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting president of the European parliament Martin Schulz.

He urged all-out boost of ties between Iran and the European Union in the post-sanction climate.

On Oct. 18, Iran and the world powers announced to start implementing the deal reached in Vienna, Austria, on July 14 over Tehran's controversial nuclear program.

The West has so far taken a pragmatic approach and launched the process of lifting sanctions imposed on Iran, as Tehran responded positively, anticipating the lifting of some sanctions this year.

Iran expressed its readiness to expand its ties with European countries within this new zeitgeist.

For his part, Schulz referred to the nuclear deal as the "unique opportunity" to upgrade the mutual ties of Iran and the EU and said that "the nuclear deal proved that diplomacy is the best way to tackle the political issues. The deal between Iran and powers is a successful example of diplomacy."

On Saturday, Rouhani also described the cooperation between Iran and Europe as a means to the stability and security in the region and a fight against terrorism.

Schulz said that the stability of the Middle East region is of high importance and Iran can play a leading and constructive part in this regard.

The president of the European parliament welcomed Iran's participation in the recent talks over the future of Syria and expressed the hope that the next meetings will help reaching solutions for the crisis in the Arab state.

Schulz, who arrived in Iran's capital Tehran on Saturday for talks to step up dialogue between Iran and the EU, also partook at a joint press conference with Ali Larijani, Iran's parliament speaker.

Asked about the future of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's political scene, he said that "there cannot be a long-time power for Assad." His stay in power can be considered for a short time while the talks for the future of Syria are underway, Schulz said.

Iran, Europe, the United States and Saudi Arabia can help facilitate the process for the Syrian people to decide on the future of their own country, he said.

National dialogue should be carried out in Syria and those who have bombed their own people should be accountable for their actions, he added.

Iran's speaker replied that the Syrian crisis is not the issue of a person in power, but the question of terrorism which should be dealt with for the good of the region.

The growth of terrorism is a threat to the whole region and the restoration of security and stability in Syria. "We should fight terrorism," he stressed.

The other countries should not decide on the future of the Syrian people; they can facilitate the rule of people in Syria in a democratic process, he added.

Also, Larijani said that the visit of Schulz has prepared a proper ground for enhancement of ties after the July nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers

"We had constructive talks today on the regional issues, including terrorism and the existing crises," Larijani said.

Other issues in the region also require further conversation between Iran and Europe, and "we think Europe can play a positive role in this regard," he said.

The Iranian speaker hopes the current visit by the European parliament president to Tehran will have "appropriate achievements" for both sides.

Schulz believes "Iran and Europe are at the crucial juncture as for their relations," after he had good and helpful talks with the Iranian speaker on Saturday.

The nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group, which is consisted of the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, is at its implementation stage.

It will, hopefully, lead to the opening of a new chapter in the economic and political ties between Iran and Europe, Schulz said.

The visit by Schulz is the first trip of a European Parliament president to Iran, at the invitation of Iran's parliament speaker. Endit