TEHRAN (FNA)- President Hassan Rouhani said Iran's regional efforts have helped stop foreign-backed extremist outfits from establishing terror states in the Middle East.

"Iran is at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and extremism," Rouhani said Tuesday night, addressing an Iranian-Italian forum in Rome.


Rouhani said if it had not been for Iran's active role in fighting terrorism, "we would have probably witnessed by now terror states and not terrorist groups threatening global peace and security".


"The world now acknowledges the fact that Iran is playing a key role in global affairs. Global powers also admit they cannot resolve regional issues in the absence of Iran," he added.


Rouhani arrived in Rome on Monday at the head of a delegation of more than 100 businessmen and ministers. He met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, the country's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Pope Francis.


During the meeting with President Rouhani in Vatican on Tuesday, Pope Francis underlined the need for Iran to play a leading role in campaign against terrorism.


Also in a joint press conference with President Rouhani in Rome on Monday, Renzi said that it will be easier to win the War on Terror in cooperation with Iran.


"We should fight terrorism all together, with the presence of Iran at the negotiating table at the international fora," he said.


Renzi went on to state that �Iran plays a fundamental role in the stability of the Middle East region which is struggling with years of extremism and terrorism�.


By Fars News Agency