President Rouhani invited to Rome

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni has invited Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to visit Rome, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday, a week after France invited him to visit Paris.

Gentiloni conveyed the official invitation from Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi during a visit to Tehran, his first since Iran reached a nuclear deal with world powers last month that will see international sanctions lifted.

At a meeting with President Rouhani on Wednesday, Gentiloni said that his country is keen to invest in Iranian projects.

“Iran has a key role in establishment of peace and stability in the region and the international community needs Iran’s help”, Gentiloni added.

Referring to the geographical situation of Iran along the Silk Road, he urged joint investment of Tehran and Rome for production and export of goods to other regional states.

Italian foreign minister declared his country’s preparedness to help invest in and transfer of technology to Iran in all fields including the oil and gas industry.

On the other hand, President Rouhani said that Iran would do its best for establishment of peace and stability in the region.

‘Following the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and P5+1, Tehran is feeling a heavy burden on its shoulder.’ President Rouhani added.

Touching upon the European Union huge capacities, Italy in particular, for fostering relations with Iran, President Rouhani reiterated that the transfer of capital and technology to Iran and then joint export to regional markets are the priority of Iran for reinforcing economic relations with the European countries.

Pointing to Iran-Italy ancient-old relations, he added there is no hindrance on the way of fostering mutual cooperation.

‘Iran and Italy could open a new chapter in political, economic, cultural, scientific and tourism arenas,’ he added.

President Rouhani underlined that the ground is fully prepared for attracting foreign investment in the fields of energy, banking, insurance, industry, transportation, health as well as sanitation.

He also thanked the Italian prime minister for the invitation, adding that he would travel to Italy in proper time.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni held talks with officials in Tehran on Tuesday, the latest in a series of European officials seeking closer trade ties with Iran after its nuclear deal with world powers, Reuters reported.

Senior government ministers from France, Germany and Serbia have been among visitors to Iran since the July 14 accord that raised the prospect of banking and trade sanctions on Iran being lifted, perhaps around the end of this year.

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