Zarif: Flame of Terrorists to Engulf Everybody

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that the flame of extremists in the region will engulf everybody, as he urged the withdrawal of all foreign-backed militants from Syria.

During a panel discussion the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos Friday, Zarif stressed that the Syrian people should be allowed to determine their own destiny without foreign interference.

“I can ask all foreign forces to withdraw… to allow the Syrian people to decide their own future,” the top Iranian diplomat said.

He also noted that any military option to end the Syrian crisis should be off the table.

Zarif further dismissed claims by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who had accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of preparing the ground for terrorists to enter the country.

“Extremism is a product of foreign intervention and product of short-sightedness. Those who created the Taliban [in Afghanistan] ended up paying their blood for what they have created. The flames that have been created in our region will engulf everybody,” Zarif said.

He emphasized that those who are calling on President Assad to step down are responsible for the crisis in the Middle East region, which has caused innumerable deaths.