PM: Sweden admires Iran-Russia-Turkey initiative to settle crisis in Syria

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven underlined that his country welcomes and supports the initiative and joint efforts made by Iran, Russia and Turkey to arrange talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in Astana in a bid to restore peace in Syria.

"Sweden welcomes the initiative by Iran, Russia and Turkey to establish ceasefire in Syria and believes that all countries should support this process," Löfven said in a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Saturday.

Stressing Stockholm's continued efforts to fight and uproot terrorism, he said, "We consider Iran as a major actor in the region and we hope that it will continue its role in the establishment of security and stability in the region."

President Rouhani, for his part, underscored abundant capacities to develop ties between Tehran and Stockholm, and said, "Given Sweden's experience in maintaining the safety of the nuclear power plants and their equipment as well as management of nuclear wastes, this field can be one of the areas for cooperation between the two countries."

He also emphasized that Iran and Europe can have extensive cooperation in the energy sector.

Earlier today, President Rouhani also underlined the necessity for continued talks between the Syrian government and the militant oppositions as well as campaign against the ISIL and al-Nusra Front (Fatah al-Sham) terrorist groups in Syria.

"Ceasefire in Syria is important to both of us and we hope that this situation will continue and talks between the Syrian government and dissidents will continue and finally, peace and security will be established in Syria and we will continue fight against the terrorist groups, including the ISIL and al-Nusra," President Rouhani said in a joint press conference with Löfven in Tehran on Saturday.

The Iranian president said that during the meeting with Löfven, they discussed the regional issues, specially the crises in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and ways to further expand bilateral ties.

"Another issue that went under discussion was the transit route between Iran and the northern and eastern parts of Europe to the Indian Ocean and the road and railway links that we can establish between the two regions. Also, we discussed the academic and scientific ties, specially the new technologies," he added.

President Rouhani also referred to Iran's relations with the European Union, and said, "We believe that the EU should support the European companies and banks after the nuclear deal to use the atmosphere created after the agreement to the utmost to meet our common interests."

Löfven, heading a high-ranking economic and political delegation, arrived in Tehran on Friday.

EA