Iranian President Sheikh Hasan Rouhani warned Thursday that Syria could become an extremist haven like Taliban-era Afghanistan as he urged “collective cooperation” to find a political solution to the crisis in the Arab country

Iranian President Sheikh Hasan Rouhani warned Thursday that Syria could become an extremist haven like Taliban-era Afghanistan as he urged “collective cooperation” to find a political solution to the crisis in the Arab country.

In an address to a gathering convened by Asia Society and the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Sheikh Rouhani said: “I am concerned that certain parts of Syria have turned into a breeding ground for extremist ideologies and [a suitable place] for terrorists’ gathering, which is reminiscent of the situation in certain regions neighboring our eastern borders in the 1990s”.

“This is an issue of concern not only to us but also to many other countries, which requires cooperation and joint efforts aimed at finding a durable, inter-Syrian political solution.”

President Rouhani said he is deeply moved by the unfolding “human tragedy” in Syria and the great sufferings that the Syrian people have endured over the past two and a half years.

Rouhani welcomed a US-Russian agreement for Assad to give up chemical weapons.

"We are pleased that diplomacy... and sober judgment prevailed over saber-rattling," Rouhani said while underlining that Iran itself was a victim of chemical weapons and that it would strongly condemn the use of such weapons.

His eminence also emphasized that “well-coordinated” regional and international efforts are needed to resolve the crisis in Syria. He expressed Iran’s readiness to broker “serious” talks among the parties involved in the Syrian conflict to help restore peace and stability to the country.

Rouhani, elected in June on a platform of moderation, is on a visit to the United Nations.