(tasnim) -- During the meeting held in Tehran on Monday, Rouhani said confronting terrorism and safeguarding geographical borders in the region were the most important goals that Iran and Turkey tried to achieve through development of cooperation and bilateral relations.

“Any change in geographical borders will cause insecurity and instability to spread throughout the region.”

Iran and Turkey, as two important countries and the pillars of stability in the region, could play an influential role in resolving regional issues if they stood by each other, the president noted.

He said the central governments in Syria and Iraq should be strengthened in order to maintain the two countries’ territorial integrity, facilitate the war on terror and prevent alterations in geographical borders.

Rouhani then described terrorism, insecurity and instability as common threats facing Iran and Turkey in the region.

Urging closer military cooperation between the two neighboring countries, Rouhani said, “The armed forces of Iran and Turkey can establish constructive relations in order to repel regional threats through further expansion of cooperation and exchange of experience.”

Also at the meeting, Turkish chief of general staff said his country respected territorial integrity of all regional countries, including Syria and Iraq.

He also voiced Ankara’s readiness to develop cooperation with Iran in the fight against terrorism.