Speaker: Military Means Not Enough To Fight Terrorism

Tehran, Sept 25, IRNA – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday that military means and bombarding the terrorists are not enough to fight terrorism, criticizing the US-led coaltion. He made the remarks in a meeting with the Portugal Ambassador to Iran Mario Fernando Damash Nunes. Larijani said that Iran and Portugal have longstanding diplomatic ties, adding that Majlis welcomes promoting ties with the Portuguese parliament based on mutual understanding. Pointing to the two countries' capacities in various fields for boosting economic cooperation, he said that they boast numerous capabilities in economic, commercial, scientific and technical fields which should be utilized in favor of the two nations. Larijani contended that self-style coalition to combat terrorism is an excuse for advancing the goals of the US and its allies which helped the growth of the evil phenomenon through financial and military aid. The Portugal envoy, for his part, voiced his country's readiness to expand ties with Iran and said that given the international developments, his country is interested to enhance level of relations with Iran in all fields. Portugal's parliament is seeking to give a momentum to parliamentary ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran through friendship groups and for the same reason it intends to dispatch parliamentary delegation accompanying economy minister to Tehran, he said./end