Rouhani: Terrorism Now Spreading to All Parts of World

(FNA)- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane in Tehran on Monday warned that the threat of terrorism and radicalism is no more contained within certain geographical borders, warning that all the world nations are in danger now.

"Unfortunately, the virus of violence and terrorism is spreading to all parts of the world and today all the nations should join hands to stand against this dangerous virus," President Rouhani said.

The Iranian president underlined the need for helping the crisis-hit countries, specially Yemen, and said, "Military attack and intervention is no solution to the countries' internal problems; rather different political parties should be given the opportunity to hold (national) dialogue and in the meantime safe conditions should be created for supplying the wounded and affected people with relief aids."

President Rouhani, meantime, reiterated that Iran, as the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, favors closer cooperation between the African Union and the NAM member states.

The South African foreign minister, for her part, voiced Cape Town's willingness to broaden ties with Iran, and said, "Today I am carrying the message of good will, solidarity, partnership and extensive cooperation between South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran."

In recent years, Iran has sought hard to boost ties and cooperation with Africa.

Iran is an observing member of the African Union (AU) and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings.

In December, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called for widening cooperation with Africa

"Africa is of paramount importance in Iran's foreign policy," Zarif said in a meeting with visiting Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Mahboub Maalim in Tehran.