Tasnim � An Iranian official described the country�s support for Syria and Iraq as a testimony of contribution to regional peace and stability, stressing that Tehran keeps countering plots aimed at splitting up regional states.

�Iran will definitely stand against any move to weaken and disintegrate regional countries,� Head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran's Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati said in a meeting with Secretary General of Norway�s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wegger Christian Strommen, held in Tehran on Sunday.

Touching on Iran�s support for Iraq at the request of the Arab government, Velayati said Tehran has been doing its utmost to preserve regional peace and stability by also helping Syria, which has been beset with a crisis caused by �foreign interference and backing for terrorists and extremist groups.�

The former Iranian foreign minister also urged European countries to adopt a �clearer and more accurate� view of the Middle East developments.

He then hailed the age-old diplomatic ties between Tehran and Oslo, calling for formulation of a road map to closer cooperation.

For his part, the visiting Norwegian diplomat said Norway and Iran have entered �a new phase of economic cooperation.�

Strommen also lauded a rise in Iran-Norway bilateral trade in the post-JCPOA era, particularly in the oil and gas industry.

European countries have shown great enthusiasm for closer trade ties with Iran since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France, and Germany), came into force in January 2016.