Iranian president calls for Syrian election, says country is 'ready to engage' with world

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, speaks during a session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. Leaders gathered in the Swiss ski resort of Davos have made it a top priority to push to reshape the global economy and cut global warming by shifting to cleaner energy sources. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

DAVOS, Switzerland – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for free and fair elections in Syria, saying it would respect any outcome.

Rouhani also said his nation is "ready to engage" with its neighbors on most important issues of the day.

Rouhani says "the best solution is to organize a free and fair elections in Syria" and that once the ballots are cast "we should all accept" the outcome. Iran was barred from participating in the Swiss-based talks to end Syria's civil war,

He told the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday that his country wants to deepen relations, notably trade, with its neighbors and that relations with Europe will be "normalized."

Rouhani noted Iran's central role in Mideast security and said he sees no "impediment" to its emerging nuclear deal.