While in the United States to attend the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Iran’s president met a number of world’s leaders on the sidelines of the event on Tuesday.
The meetings indicate Iran’s importance for the leaders in order to expand their economic and political relations, particularly after the last year nuclear agreement between Tehran and P5+1 group of countries.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and British Prime Minister Theresa May met for the first time on the sidelines of the 71st UNGA session in New York.
During the meeting, Rouhani lauded the promotion of ties between Tehran and London, and called the nuclear deal a great development and a basis for closer bilateral cooperation.
Obstacles to economic cooperation
He also called on all parties of the agreement to fulfill their obligations, adding that until all the technical obstacles in banking and insurance services are not removed, the other side’s commitments are not fulfilled. Rouhani said the UK can take the key step in this regard.
The British premier hailed the expansion of Tehran-London relations in political and economic fields in recent years and said Britain would back further development of ties.
Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Rouhani arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday.
Main trade partner
Rouhani also held a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi where he stated that during the post-deal era Italy has the opportunity to become Iran’s main trade partner in Europe. 
“Recent bilateral trips are a turning point in relations and a sign of determination of the two nations and governments to bolster cooperation,” said Rouhani.
On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the US, Britain, France, China and Russia – plus Germany started implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) they had clinched on July 14, 2015. Under the nuclear agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
“Both sides must be committed to the JCPOA’s terms that can provide the basis for strengthening regional peace and security,” Rouhani added.
Fight against terrorism
In a separate meeting with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the fringes of the event, Rouhani said Iran and Turkey can play a key role in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“Terrorism is a threat to all of us and the two countries (Iran and Turkey) can play an important role in the fight against terrorism and insecurity in the region, Syria and Iraq in particular,” Rouhani said.
Erdogan thanked Iran for supporting the Turkish government in the early hours of this year’s failed coup attempt in his country on July 15, saying that Ankara is confident that Tehran will continue its support for its neighboring country.
“Iran and Turkey are two major Islamic countries in the region,” he added, noting that the two countries can cooperate and play a “determining” role in defusing the ongoing crises and establishing security in the region, particularly in Syria and Iraq.
Rouhani also met French President Francois Hollande and Slovenian President Borut Pahor on Tuesday.
The Iranian president is scheduled to deliver a speech at the General Assembly session on Thursday. He is also scheduled to meet with senior officials of other countries as well as a number of political and economic elites.
