RNA - "Israeli regime lacks any sympathy towards Muslims and has always been hostile to the Islamic world," Larijani said in a meeting with Head of the Nigerien Parliamentary Friendship Group Masani Couroni in Tehran on Tuesday.
The Iranian parliament speaker reiterated that one of the major issues of the Muslim world is the fight against terrorism that would be more seriously detrimental to the dignity of Muslims if not resolved as quickly as possible.
Couroni, for his part, submitted the condolence message of Niger’s Head of National Assembly on Tehran terrorist attacks to Larijani, and voiced his country's readiness to cooperate with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Parliament.
“Niger is a country that has been under international pressure for a long time, but has always tried to take into account the interests of the country and Muslims and not to be overpowered by these pressures,” he added.
Couroni underlined that a regional summit was held in Africa in the presence of the regional presidents, and said, "Yet Niger's president did not attend the summit because of the presence of Israeli prime minister in order to defend Muslim rights which is of high importance for Niger."
In relevant remarks on Tuesday, Senior Advisor to the Iranian Parliament Speaker Hossein Amir Abdollahian lauded the Nigerien government's stance towards the Palestinian cause.
"We welcome Niger's constructive stance against Israel's occupation of the Palestinian lands," Amir Abdollahian said in a meeting with Couroni in Tehran.
Couroni, for his part, expressed pleasure over his visit to Tehran and called for using Iranian Majlis’ experience and its support to help boost bilateral relations.
He also urged promotion of ties in all fields, particularly in parliamentary and health sectors.
Niger Parliamentary Friendship Group is in Tehran on a three-day official visit at the invitation of its Iranian counterpart.
Niger is planning to reopen its Embassy in Tehran.
In relevant remarks in late October, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with his counterpart from Niger Ibrahim Yacouba in Tehran called for the expansion of mutual cooperation.
"Iran is ready to develop relations with Niger," Zarif said during the meeting.
The Iranian foreign minister said that Iran and Niger have the needed capacities to have closer diplomatic, economic, regional and international cooperation.
Zarif, meantime, pointed to the extensive capacities for economic cooperation, specially in the fields of transportation, banking interactions, agriculture, mines, energy and joint investment, and said, "Setting up a joint commission can pave the way for boosting the future cooperation."
Yacouba, for his part, said that Niger is ready to open its embassy in Tehran and he invited Zarif to pay an official visit to Niger.
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