Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders met and talked with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani today morning in Tehran.
Emphasizing the need to expand political, economic and cultural cooperation between Iran and the Netherlands, Ali Shamkhani stated that, “the consultations between the two countries can deal with resolving regional issues, energy exports, trade development, and confronting terrorism.”
“The current situation in the European Union and West Asia makes it as necessary to resolve the issues fundamentally; based mutual respect, political dialogue and the Netherlands Presidency of the EU provides the opportunity to solve the challenges facing the region,” he added.
Underlining the necessity of solving the refugee crisis and establishing peace and security in the countries afflicted with war, Shamkhani underlined that, “official governments of countries affected by the terrorism need to establish partnership in order to provide security and stave off extremist groups.”
Pointing to the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1, he deemed adherence to commitments as key to sustainable political solution noting that any attempt to restore or maintain sanctions would exacerbate distrust.
Dutch Foreign Minister, for his part, noted the background of Iran-Netherlands relations and said, “the nuclear deal has opened new horizons in various fields between Iran and the European countries particularly the Netherlands."
“The recent crisis in the region and the growth of terrorism is a global threat and if the current trend continues it leads to deepening instability and insecurity in the region as well as the world,” he added.
Emphasizing his country’s readiness to improve relations with Iran, the Dutch FM asserted that, “the Netherlands welcomes and supports development of ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran in all possible fields.”
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