Iranian, Italian ministers discuss regional developments, cultural ties

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Italian Minister of Tourism and Culture Massimo Bray exchanged views over the spread of extremism in the region, and discussed new avenues for expanding Tehran-Rome cultural cooperation. In a meeting in Tehran on Sunday, the top Iranian diplomat said that violence and extremism are against civilization, and asked for all world nations to share a common viewpoint to fight violence. Zarif stressed that confronting extremism and violence is on the agenda of his ministry, reiterating that cultural cooperation is the only way to fight extremism. The Italian minister, for his part, underscored the need for the expansion of cultural relations between Rome and Tehran, saying that “cultural cooperation can set the stage for confidence-building”. Bray, heading a delegation, arrived in Tehran late Friday evening on a four-day visit. The Italian minister also had separate meetings with his Iranian counterpart Ali Jannati, and Vice-President and Head of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran Mohammad Ali Najafi on Saturday.