TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Deputy secretary-general of the United Nations hailed Iran as an influential country with a major role in the region, calling on the Islamic Republic to lend the UN a helping hand with settlement of the conflicts.

The UN desperately needs Iran�s help and cooperation to deal with the conflicts in the Middle East region, Jan Kenneth Eliasson said in a meeting with Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in Tehran on Tuesday.

The UN official then stressed the need for the formulation of a new strategy to restore peace and stability to the region under the aegis of �influential countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.�

Elaisson underlined that the UN wants Iran to be given a more active role in helping settle the regional disputes and establish stability.

The Iranian speaker, for his part, voiced Tehran�s readiness to contribute to the establishment of stability and calm in the region.

Back on September 1, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had also called for Iran�s more active role in the settlement of the regional and international conflicts.

Iran and the United Nations can promote cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism, Ban had announced at the time.

By Tasnim News agency