Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for the expansion of political, cultural, and scientific ties with Japan.

The Iranian president made the comments during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York, IRNA reported on Sunday.

He said the nuclear agreement of July 14 is an opportunity for the expansion of relations between Tehran and Tokyo in various fields such as nuclear energy.

Iran and the P5+1 countries – the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – finalized the text of the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

Referring to the spread of Takfiri militant groups in the Middle East, Rouhani stated that in order to eradicate terrorism, steps should be taken towards enhancing welfare and development in the region, so that the terrorists lose their foothold.

Rouhani, who is currently in New York for the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, hailed Japan as a strategic partner of the Islamic Republic.

In turn, Abe stressed that Tokyo wishes for an active role in further developing Iran’s economy.

Japan is ready to have cooperation with Iran in the fields of science, culture, environment, medicine, nuclear safety and technology, Abe said, adding that Tokyo will support deals with Japan’s private sector and the implementation of commercial agreements with Iran.

The Japanese prime minster also offered his condolences for the Iranians killed and injured in the recent deadly incident that claimed the lives of hundreds of pilgrims during the Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia.

On September 24, a fatal human crush broke out in Mina, outside the holy city of Mecca, as a large crowd of pilgrims were on their way to participate in the symbolic stoning of Satan, a Hajj ritual.