Tehran (IP) - President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran believes divisions within the Islamic Ummah is in the interest of no one, and in this regard, Iran fully welcomes Pakistan's efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.

Iran Press/Iran News: In a meeting with the Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi late on Sunday, Rouhani added that Iran is keen to have close and friendly relations with all regional states, as under the current situation, all should work for regional peace and stability and cooperate to ease tensions in the region.

Referring to the sensitive situation in the region, Hassan Rouhani said that in the current situation, everyone should work together for peace and stability in the region, as well as reducing tensions in the region.

The President emphasized that war and tensions in the region could be very dangerous, stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran, while fully prepared to defend its interests, never sought to ignite a war in the region. "The strike on US bases in Iraq was in fact in response to US criminal act," he stressed.

Rouhani further noted, "Today, we must all believe that the dialogue and close cooperation of the Muslim nations and governments in the region will benefit everyone and that any distance, conflict, and war will harm everyone."

The president emphasized the importance of expanding and deepening Tehran-Islamabad ties, saying, "Iran-Pakistan borders should be borders of peace and friendship and should not let certain grouplets make our borders insecure."  

For his part, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi condoled on the martyrdom of Lt. Gen. Soleimani and the crash of the passenger plane to the Iranian government and nation, saying the assassination of Gen. Soleimani was a very shocking event.

The Pakistani foreign minister insisted his country would not allow its territory to be used to threaten other countries, particularly Iran.

He added that Pakistan views itself as a partner of peace and stability for the Islamic Republic of Iran and does not want to be a partner in any conflict that would harm the region, especially Iran.

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