Merkel and Rouhani discuss Middle East tensions

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani discussed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and recent developments in the Middle East during talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly yesterday, the Iranian government said.

"Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met for the first time at the UN headquarters and conferred on reinforcing mutual cooperation, preserving JCPOA as well as defusing regional tensions," the Iranian government wrote on Twitter.

Rouhani also informed Merkel about Tehran’s Hormuz Peace Initiative.

"On Dr Rouhani's HOPE Initiative, she [Merkel] said that Germany would willingly look into the initiative and that it supports any action for easing tensions in the region," Sputnik cited the press service as saying.