Zarif: Saudi-Preached Takfiri Ideology Main Threat to ME

Local Editor

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed that the extremist Takfiri dogma propagated by Saudi Arabia is the main threat to the security and stability of regional countries.

"The main threat to the region is the Takfiri and extremist ideologies, whose intellectual and financial origin and resources emanate from Saudi Arabia," Zarif said in a meeting with former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Tehran on Monday.

The Iranian official further added that in his letter to foreign ministers of different countries, he had outlined Saudi Arabia's measures over the past two years to spread Iran-phobia.

He emphasized that Iran has so far out of prudence put up with all the negative Saudi measures, including the sexual abuse of two teenage Iranian pilgrims by Saudi officers at Jeddah airport in April and the deadly stampede in Mina in September.

"We consider Saudi Arabia's approaches to create tensions as propaganda stunts here and there and regard them as an immature and passive conduct," the Iranian minister pointed out.

The former German chancellor said his country envisages good prospects for relations with Iran after the implementation of a nuclear agreement reached between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group of countries, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], in July 2015.

Schroeder added that Germany along with European countries hope that they will manage to benefit from Iran's capacities to solve regional crises after the closure of Tehran's nuclear dossier.

In a meeting with Schroeder earlier Monday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council [SNSC] Ali Shamkhani called for regional and global fight against countries that are nurturing Daesh terrorists.

"Saudi Arabia must make a choice between supporting Takfiri groups and destabilizing the region [on the one hand] and pursuing the path of constructive interaction and genuine participation in establishing stability and security [on the other]," Shamkhani said.

He added that contrary to some American officials and lobbyists who see their interests in creating challenges and crises for others, Iran is keen to expand relations to help solve issues.

The SNSC secretary also highlighted the role of Iran, as a regional power, in the genuine and influential battle against extremism and terrorism.

The spread of insecurity, caused by Takfiri terrorists, to Europe exposes the inefficiency of so-called US coalition to counter terrorists and their supporters in the region, Shamkhani said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team