Ban Ki-moon praised Iran's growing cooperation

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Thursday with Jawad Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran. The official UN readout of the meeting said the two discussed “Iran's growing cooperation with the international community on a host of issues, including the nuclear file, as well the role Iran could play in promoting a political solution to the conflict in Syria.” “I had a very good meeting this morning with the new Foreign Minister of Iran, Jawad Zarif,” Ki-moon told reporters later on the other UN event dedicated to the UN development agenda. “I told Minister Zarif that I commend the efforts of the new government in Iran in promoting dialogue with the international community.” Ban said he especially “praised the government's actions in releasing 12 political prisoners yesterday, including the human rights lawyer, Ms. Nasreen Sotoudeh, as well as a number of women’s rights activists, political activists and journalists.” “As you may remember, when I visited Iran last year, in August, I raised this issue and discussed with them and urged them to release all these people. I am glad that they have finally taken action,” the UN Secretary General said. “I told the Minister that I am pleased that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is now taking some concrete steps to fulfill the promises made by President Rouhani during his recent election campaign”, Ban said.?? He also confirmed that he is going to meet President Rouhani next week and further, as he said -- “discuss matters of mutual concern very closely.”