Istanbul, April 15, IRNA – President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday that stirring divide among Muslim leaders and using terrorist groups as a tool serve the goals of enemies.


He made the remarks in a meeting with Senegalese President Macky Sall on the sidelines of the 13th Summit of Leaders of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul.

Rouhani said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is willing to develop all-out ties with African states and that Iran is ready to expand economic, scientific, cultural, medical relations with Senegal as well.

He said that Iran is keen on cooperation and regular consultations with the Senegalese government on international issues, such as regional security and peace and security in north Africa.

President Rouhani said that in the current circumstances OIC is expected to help strengthen the Islamic unity and that enemies of Islam have attempted to sow discord in Islamic world and use the terrorist groups, the so-called advocates of Islam as a tool.

President Macky Sall expressed the Senegalese government is interested in enhanced relations with Iran.

He invited Iranian economic delegation to visit Senegal to develop bilateral cooperation and ties.

He said that terrorist groups have nothing to do with Islam and that Senegal is ready for cooperation with Iran in the field of fight against terrorism, extremism and violence.

The 13th Summit meeting of OIC member states kicked off on Thursday with the agenda of 'Unity and solidarity for justice and peace' in Istanbul.

By IRNA