Roundup: Rouhani to meet Italian leaders, entrepreneurs in Rome at weekend

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will be in Italy's capital Rome on Saturday, where he is scheduled to meet Italian highest authorities and entrepreneurs at the weekend, Italian media said.

Rouhani will hold talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and later on the same day with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Saturday, according to ANSA news agency.

On Sunday, the Iranian leader and his delegation will take part in a business forum organized by the Italy-Iran Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCII) and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Rome to meet high representatives of Italian companies, according to a statement published on the CCII website.

The forum anticipates an economic mission of around 240 Italian companies that will fly to Iran later this month, after four Italian ministers, including Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and Economic Development Minister Federica Guidi, visited the country over the past few months, ANSA noted.

In an interview with Italy's largest circulation newspaper Corriere della Sera published earlier this week, Rouhani said he was pleased that his first visit abroad after signing the nuclear agreement last July would be to Italy.

"Italy is a country with which Iran has long had good relationships economically, culturally and politically," he said.

"For a while, Italy was our number one trading partner. As to international and political issues, the Italian leaders have always taken a moderate stance on us. We consider your country as a partner and a friend in Europe. I hope my trip will start a new phase in our relationships," he highlighted.

In the interview, Rouhani also faced key international issues. Talking about the nuclear deal, he said he thinks that by the end of the year the agreement will be implemented.

"When that day comes, all economic, bank and financial sanctions are lifted. Iran will meet its obligations at the same time as the actions of its counterpart. We are both working," he said.

"All Iranian people are looking with hope to the day when the sanctions are lifted," he added.

Rouhani also underlined that the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States is a different issue.

"But the way we will implement the agreement can have an impact on the future. If it is well implemented, it will lay the foundations for a lesser tension with the United States, thus creating the conditions for a new era. But if the Americans do not meet their nuclear deal commitments, then our relationship will certainly be the same as in the past," he went on saying.

As regards the Syrian crisis, Rouhani said that for the first time, the major countries and those of his region are sitting down at the same table.

"Even though the United States, Russia, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have different opinions, it clearly shows that solutions to regional conflicts can be found working together," he said.

Rouhani stressed that the Syrian issue is very complex.

"We cannot expect to solve it with only one negotiations round, but there is a new opportunity. We think that there is not a military but a political solution to the Syrian conflict," he pointed out.

In his opinion, the priority in Syria is the fight against terrorism thus the return of peace and stability. Enditem