SHAFAQNA-
Speaking Monday in a meeting with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Tehran, Zarif added that Takfirism and extremism are the major threats in the region.
He also criticized Iranophobic policies of the Riyadh regime, stressing that despite these policies, Tehran has shown restraint.
In recent weeks, tension has been rising in the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia due to the unwise approaches taken by Riyadh, especially its execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.
Saudi Arabia’s execution on January 2 executed 47 prisoners, including Sheikh Nimr, a move which drew global condemnation.
In the early hours of January 3, angry demonstrators attacked Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran in protest at Riyadh’s execution of the Shia cleric.
Police arrested those identified as being involved in the attack and President Hassan Rouhani condemned the move afterwards.
However, Saudi officials decided to sever ties with Iran.
Elsewhere in the Monday meeting, Zarif and Schroeder discussed the latest developments in the region and bilateral ties between Iran and Germany.
Schroeder arrived in Tehran on Sunday at the head of a trade delegation.