Terrorism, extremism threats to entire Mideast: Iran FM

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says extremism and terrorism pose a threat to all countries in the Middle East region.

“Extremism and terrorism have turned into a threat to all regional countries and these threats should be confronted through coordination, cooperation and solidarity among countries,” Zarif told reporters in the holy Iraqi city of Najaf after a Monday meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

He said senior clerics and religious figures have always played a constructive and leading role in the battle against terrorism and extremism.

Zarif reaffirmed Iran’s support for the Iraqi government’s anti-terror bids and said, “The Islamic Republic will continue to stand by Iraq in the war against extremism and terrorism.”

The Iranian minister noted that he had briefed Ayatollah Sistani on the recent conclusion of nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries and exchanged views with the senior cleric on key regional and international issues.

Zarif further said that his current three-nation tour of the Middle East is his first trip after the nuclear agreement between Iran and the six world powers and is aimed at discussing the ways of improving mutual relations to serve regional interests and promote global peace.

The Iranian foreign minister arrived in the holy Iraqi city of Najaf late Sunday after he paid visits to Kuwait and Qatar.

Zarif will depart for the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad later on Monday to sit down with the country’s President Fuad Masum, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari.

The officials will exchange views on leading bilateral, regional and international developments and the recent nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

On July 14, Iran and the six world powers – the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany — finalized the text of an agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in Vienna.

Under the JCPOA, limits are put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for a set of commitments by the P5+1, including the removal of all economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic.