Iran FM urges fight against all terrorist groups

Rasa - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has warned of the threat of terror acts in the Middle East, urging an all-out campaign against terrorism and extremism.

News ID: 423071

Date: 29 August 2016 - 23:36

RNA - “We do not believe in [dichotomizing] terrorism into good and bad [forms] and it is necessary to fight all extremist and Takfiri groups,” Zarif said in a meeting with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani in Tehran on Monday.

He added that Iran attaches special importance to the state of affairs in Afghanistan, saying, “As I have repeatedly announced in meetings with all Afghan officials, we regard your progress, stability and security as our own progress, stability and security.”

The top Iranian diplomat said the issue of security is an important issue for both Tehran and Kabul and urged the two sides’ authorities to hold constant consultation in this regard.

Iran, important country for Afghanistan

Rabbani, for his part, said several visits by Afghan officials to Iran indicate the importance of the Islamic Republic for Kabul.

He hailed an order by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei about schooling for all Afghan children in Iran.

In a meeting with Chief Executive Officer of the Afghanistan’s government, Abdullah Abdullah, in January, Ayatollah Khamenei ordered that all Afghan children in Iran be permitted schooling regardless of their residency status.

The Afghan foreign minister further stressed the importance of Chabahar port and said it can play a prominent role in the development of the country.

Iran, India and Afghanistan signed a key trilateral deal, known as the Chabahar agreement, in the Iranian capital of Tehran on May 23 to establish a strategic transit and transport route connecting the three countries.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

Rabbani arrived in Tehran on Sunday for an official visit to hold talks with senior Iranian officials on issues of common interest. On Monday, he met with Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani.

111/847/C