Zarif, Lavrov discuss issues of mutual interest in Moscow
During his one-day visit to Russia, the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met and conferred with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Friday.
In the meeting, the Russian Foreign Minister expressed his pleasure at Zarif and his entourage’s presence in Moscow and appreciated the Iranian government and people’s sympathy with the victims in the St. Petersburg terrorist event.
Referring to Iran-Russia joint cooperation in fighting terrorism, Lavrov stated that this cooperation will continue, simultaneous with political attempts to resolve the Syrian crisis peacefully.
Zarif expressed his sympathy for the victims of St. Petersburg incident and said that the unfortunate expansion of terrorism and violent actions in the region and the world is a strong reason for cooperation of Iran and Russia as well as all people who don’t exploit terrorism.
Zarif added that responding the terrorists’ movements is only possible with international cooperation and adhering to political solutions.
Referring to the chemical weapon use in Khan Shaykhun, Syria, the Iranian Foreign Minister condemned using chemical weapons in general and said that, in the meantime, using this excuse for unilateral and illegal attacks on Syria is also condemned and this matter should be dealt impartially so that the truth becomes known.
He emphasized that the Syrian crisis should be solved through political solutions. Zarif also said that Iran and Russia’s cooperation is not limited to peacemaking and finding a political solution for the Syrian crisis, and now senior diplomats from both countries are in Moscow to talk about Afghanistan.
President Rouhani’s trip to Russia and the agreements made were among keystone matters in the Zarif and Lavrov bilateral talks.
A trilateral meeting between Iran, Russia, and Syria‘s foreign ministers is to be held in the afternoon Moscow time.
END