ME needs indigenous democracy models: Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has referred to the growing trend of instability in the Middle East, saying the region needs indigenous democracy models.

Zarif made the remarks during a meeting with Italian senator Pier Ferdinando Casini in Tehran on Sunday, IRNA reported.

The Italian senator, who heads an Italian parliamentary delegation, arrived in Tehran on Friday to hold meetings with Iranian officials. In addition to Iran’s foreign minister, Casini also held meetings with other Iranian officials, including Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

The Iranian foreign minister slammed extremism, saying it “threatens everyone and no one can claim it is only the region’s problem.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a successful example of democracy,” Zarif said, adding the country “can play an important role in the region.”

Casini, for his part, expressed hope about expansion of relations between Tehran and Rome in different areas, saying the West must try to gain Iran’s confidence in nuclear talks.

On November 24, 2013, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the US — plus Germany inked an interim deal in Geneva to set the stage for the full resolution of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program.