Generating economic growth in the Middle East is crucial to defeating extremism, Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said on Tuesday, putting forward his country as a regional trade hub and pillar of stability.
Rowhani is on a four-day trip to Italy and France, looking to rebuild Iranian relations with the West some two weeks after financial sanctions on Tehran were rolled back in the wake of its nuclear accord with world powers last year.
Italy announced some 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) of business deals with Iran on Monday. Mega contracts are also in the offing in France, reflecting EU countries’ keenness to cash in on the diplomatic thaw with the Islamic Republic.
Underscoring the growing warmth, Rowhani said he expected Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to visit Iran in the coming months to help boost bilateral economic alliances.
“We are ready to welcome investment, welcome technology and create a new export market,” Rowhani told a business forum on the second day of his visit to Rome, saying Iran had ambitions to develop its own economy after years of curbs and hardship.
“Under the new conditions, we want to export 30 percent of what we produce in Iran.”
Italy has rolled out the red carpet to Rowhani and his 120-strong delegation of business leaders and government ministers, seeing Shi'ite Muslim Tehran as a possible partner in the battle against ISIS.
“If we want to combat extremism in the world, if we want to fight terror, one of the roads before us is providing growth and jobs. Lack of growth creates forces for terrorism. Unemployment creates soldiers for terrorists,” Rowhani said.

Rowhani from Italy: trade could beat extremism

Iran President Rowhani talks with Italian Prime Minister Renzi at the Campidoglio palace in Rome. (Reuters)
Steve Scherer and Antonella Cinelli, Reuters, Rome
Tuesday 26 January 2016
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