Zarif: No country to benefit from growing extremism, violence

Tehran, Jan 14, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said no country has ever benefited from the growth of extremist and violent approaches. Making the remark in a meeting with the Prime Minister designate Tammam Salam of Lebanon in Beirut on Monday, he appreciated the resistance of the Lebanese nation against the Zionist regime during the 33-day war. He said the epic made during the war against the Zionist regime was accomplished due to solidarity of all Lebanese groups and tribes. He said any attempts on the part of Lebanese political and religious leaders to foster unity and convergence in the country are valuable and appreciable. The Iranian foreign minister believed that violence would harm all regional states and even its supporters. Saying that Iran’s achievements in its nuclear talks with the 5+1 was to the interest of the whole Persian Gulf region, he added that after the Geneva agreement he gave priority to his visit to the regional countries so that he could convey Iran’s readiness for regional cooperation to the Persian Gulf states. Turning to the crisis in Syria, Zarif stressed the need for political dialogue there and said the Zionist regime is the only one to benefit from continuation of the present critical conditions in Syria. Salam, for his part, expressed his warm greetings to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Outlining the domestic political situation in Lebanon, he wished the new hopes created in Lebanon would culminate in formation of a new government in the country. The Lebanese official further hailed Iran’s unique status in the region and world as an influential country which has good experiences in practicing democracy. He further welcomed Iran’s talks with the 5+1 on its peaceful nuclear program.