meeting Iran China
© IRNAChinese President Xi (2nd L) and Irani Parliament Speaker Larijani (1st R) meet in Tehran, January 23, 2016
Iran's Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani has warned against the deterioration of the security situation in the region, saying occupation and military action will fail to stop the spread of terrorism. The issue of terrorism in the region will not be solved through occupation and acts of military aggression Larijani said in a meeting with the visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tehran on Saturday, adding that the measures only lead to more insecurity and instability. He stressed the importance of improving bilateral economic relations in oil, gas, railway and technology sectors.

The Majlis speaker said some Western powers have exerted great pressure on the Islamic Republic for more than 30 years following the establishment of a popular government in Iran, but stressed that resistance of the Iranian people have rendered all such moves futile.

China keen to help Iran progress: Xi

The Chinese president urged Tehran and Beijing to boost political confidence and firmly support one another in the international arena. Xi expressed China's keenness to play a more effective role in Iran's development in different areas. He said the two countries should work to reach a common stance on matters of mutual interest and viewpoints in the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on issues including the developments in Iraq, Yemen and Syria.

Xi added that the implementation of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will provide a proper opportunity for the promotion of cooperation. The Chinese president, whose country is a member of the P5+1 group, added that the negotiations between Iran and the six global powers on Tehran's nuclear program were an example of a successful experience which can be used to solve regional problems.

Xi arrived in Tehran, at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, on Friday on a key two-day visit to hold talks with Iranian officials about opportunities to develop cooperation in politics and trade.

On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany started to implement the JCPOA that they had concluded in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on July 14, 2015.

After the JCPOA went into effect, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the UN Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran, in return, has put some limitations on its nuclear activities. The JCPOA was signed following two and a half years of intensive talks between Iran and the P5+1 group.