Iranian president ‘hopeful’ Europe won’t follow Trump’s lead on Iran
Source: Israel Hayom | Iranian president ‘hopeful’ Europe won’t follow Trump’s lead on Iran
Hassan Rouhani slams U.S. president’s criticism of Iran as a terror-sponsoring state and a threat to regional stability • Rouhani says Iran welcomes cooperation with other nations on all levels to bring stability to the Middle East.
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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
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Iran welcomes cooperation with other nations on all levels to bring stability to the Middle East, President Hassan Rouhani told his French counterpart on Monday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump lambasted Iran again during his tour of the region.
In a telephone call, Rouhani told France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron, that he was hopeful Europe would not copy Trump’s stance against the Islamic republic.
While visiting Saudi Arabia — Iran’s arch foe — on Sunday, Trump singled out Iran as a key source of funding and support for terrorist groups in the Middle East, sending a tough message the day after Rouhani won a second presidential term.
On Monday, in Jerusalem, Trump said that shared concern about Iran was driving Israel and many Arab states closer, calling Iran a real threat in the region.
“The Islamic republic is ready for cooperation in all levels with other countries, including France, to fight against terrorism and to resolve the Syrian crisis,” Rouhani told Macron, according to Iran’s state news agency, IRNA.
The French leader had called to congratulate Rouhani on being re-elected in Friday’s presidential vote.
“We should bring peace and stability back to the region. We hope Europe does not fall into the trap of countries that promote their wrong interpretations of the region,” Rouhani reportedly told Macron.
France, which is at odds with Iran over the crisis in Syria, took one of the hardest lines against Iran during the negotiations for a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers in 2015, but it has been quick to restore trade ties.
France has said it backs Trump’s call to strengthen the monitoring of the deal, but that it is committed to implementing it, including the lifting of sanctions.
Asked earlier on Monday whether it agreed with Trump’s call to isolate Iran, the French Foreign Ministry said it would “work toward developing political dialogue that should be part of a constructive approach with regard solving regional crises.”
Rouhani said at a news conference on Monday that stability cannot be achieved in the Middle East without Iran’s help.
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