Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday in his meeting with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio, conferred on mutual cooperation between the two countries, and issues of mutual interest.

Zarif met and held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the International Cooperation of Italy Luigi Di Maio to discuss the expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries of Iran and Italy.

Pointing�to mutual cooperation�in�the fields of politics, economic�and�cultural�fields,�and historical�relations�between�the two�countries�and 160 years of relations�between the�two�governments, Zarif expressed�the capabilities�available�in�the�field�of�economic�cooperation, especially�the private�sectors�and�small�and�medium-sized companies.

Referring to the recent virtual OIC extraordinary meeting, Zarif condemned�the actions and aggression�of the Zionist regime against the Gaza Strip as a result of which�tens of Palestinian civilians, including children and women, were killed�and several residential buildings were destroyed as a clear example of the violation of human rights and international law.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Luigi Di Maio, for his part, underlined�his country's desire�to�expand mutual cooperation�with�Iran, especially�in�political,�economic, and�cultural�fields.

Elsewhere in his remarks,�supporting JCPOA,�Luigi Di Maio�called for�exchanging�views�and�consultations�with�the Islamic Republic�of Iran�regarding�regional�and�international�issues.

Zarif arrived in Rome, Italy, on Sunday morning.

Rome is the second leg of the foreign minister's European tour which started from Madrid, Spain, on May 13.

In Rome, Zarif is to hold talks with officials of Italy and Vatican City on developing joint bilateral and international cooperation.

Prior to Rome, Zarif visited Madrid and reviewed regional and international cooperation.