He pointed out that Iran has so far failed to take a public stance on efforts to fight terrorism. He said that Iran can contribute to these efforts. Failing that, it will be clear that Iran wants to support and spread terrorism across the region.
He said that it is now time for Iran to speak out about something that it has remained ambiguous about for a long time.
However, Frattini recognised that Iran is a big supporter of militias that are fighting in the region, naming the Yemeni Houthis in particular.
He said: “The decisive moment of truth has arrived, and Iran has to choose its stances clearly and do away with ambiguity when it comes to terrorism. It is by no means a secret that Iran backs and supports Houthis in Yemen, which is what calls for investigating such an approach and to avert its (Iranian expansionist strategy) evils from affecting the region.”
Frattini congratulated Saudi Arabia on its key role in creating an Arab coalition in Yemen to assist the legitimate government. He insisted that the Yemeni people have the right, and deserve to be represented, defended and supported in reaching a solution to the problems in their country.
He also mentioned that concerns about Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile testing are rising, so much so that Europe is preparing an agreement with Russian and the United States so that Iran’s nuclear plans are no threat to the rest of the world.
Frattini also said that that there needs to be very strict monitoring measures and rigid regulations in place regarding the nuclear deal.
He called for genuine cooperation between NATO and the Islamic alliance so that terrorism can be curbed all over the world and said he believed that one of the most serious and consequential mistakes made by the West was its effort to export the model of Western democracy to other nations and making links between Islam and terrorism and extremism.
Emphasising that Islam and extremism are not related, he said: “We have to guide generations to invest in education and clarify everything related to extremism.”
