Mohammad Javad Zarif, who has been nominated to continue to serve as foreign minister in President Hassan Rouhani’s second term, said that “relations with neighbors have to be upgraded.”
He cited “resistance economy” as an important priority for the Foreign Ministry, especially in terms of expanding non-oil exports and attracting capital and technology into Iran.
“In the foreign policy area, we stress economic diplomacy as we believe that the Foreign Ministry should serve economic progress and people’s livelihoods,” Zarif added.
Zarif further noted that the Foreign Ministry would follow the path of peace, stability, and more cooperation in the region.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the top Iranian diplomat condemned the recent beheading of Mohsen Hojaji, a member of the Iranian advisory support team in Syria, by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.
Zarif said that the killing showed the outfit’s atrocity and inhumane treatment of people. “We hope that the terrorists’ move will sound the alarm for the world to finally realize the fact that terrorism and extremism pose a threat to all and should be countered collectively.”