Italy says ready to expand cooperation with Iran at regional, intl. level

TEHRAN,July 14(MNA) – Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said on Saturday that his country was ready to take necessary steps to strengthen ties with Iran and expand cooperation with the country at regional and international level. He made the remarks during a meeting with Iran’s new ambassador to Rome, Jahanbakhsh Mozaffari. The Italian president described Iran as an ancient and influential country in the Middle East region which is of paramount importance to Italy. Elsewhere in his remarks, Napolitano hailed the June presidential polls in Iran in which 70 percent of eligible voters participated in election. He added the new Iranian president had won a strong public support. The Iranian ambassador submitted his credentials to Napolitano and called for close political, economic, and parliamentary ties with Rome. He also conveyed the greetings of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Napolitano and emphasized that it was necessary to exchange visits by high-ranking officials to help bolster relations. Elsewhere in his remarks, Mozaffari called on Italian officials to take necessary measures to overcome impediments facing traders of the two countries, which have arisen due to the imposition of illegal sanctions on Tehran.