The Latest: Iranian president wants ties after sanctions

ROME – The Latest on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Europe (all times local):

10:45 a.m.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says his first visit to Europe since the nuclear accord was signed has proven that there are "great possibilities" for economic, academic, scientific and cultural cooperation and that "today we are in a win-win situation" after years of mutual losses due to sanctions.

At a press conference Wednesday on his third day in Rome, Rouhani said he hoped that such developments could also take place in the United States, but said the U.S. Congress was getting in the way.

He says, "The key is in Washington, not in Tehran."

After visiting the Colosseum, Rouhani next heads to France.

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10:10 a.m.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says freedom of expression doesn't extend to insulting other people's faith.

Rouhani told reporters Wednesday that he and Pope Francis discussed the issue during their audience at the Vatican on Tuesday.

Francis was once asked about the extremist attacks on the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo. He suggested that a violent reaction could be expected when someone's faith is insulted, saying that anyone who insults his mother can expect to be punched.

Rouhani concurred, saying "freedom of expression doesn't mean that people can do what they want."

He made the comments hours before arriving in Paris on the next leg of his European trip.