Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway, raised his “deep concern” about violations of human rights in Iran in a meeting with Masoud Pezeshkian, head of the government of the Islamic Republic.

The meeting took place on Wednesday, September 23, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and the Norwegian Prime Minister’s Office later released details of the topics discussed between the two sides.

According to a statement by the Norwegian government, Støre shared Oslo’s positions on human rights directly with Pezeshkian in the meeting and expressed deep concern about cases of human rights violations in Iran.

Støre, stressing the importance of direct dialogue with Tehran, said that even in situations where there are serious differences, it is important to maintain clear and direct communication.

He added that Norway’s positions on human rights, international law, regional security, and rights in the seas were clearly raised in this meeting.

Developments in the Middle East and the tensions related to the Strait of Hormuz were also among the other topics of the meeting. Støre emphasized the necessity of resolving disputes through diplomacy and said that pressure and violence are not a solution to disagreements.

The Norwegian Prime Minister’s Office did not publish more details about Pezeshkian’s response to the concerns raised regarding human rights violations.