Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at South Africa’s capital of Pretoria, Zarif said the US officials are refusing to correct their viewpoint and acknowledge that Iran is a source of stability and peace in the region and a main player in the fight against terrorism.
Daesh (also known as ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group would have formed an established government in Damascus, Baghdad and Erbil if Iranian military advisors, who are assisting the Syrian and Iraqi armies in their counter-terrorism operations, had not helped those countries, the Iranian minister noted.
Zarif then called on the US politicians to “correct their wrong views” as soon as possible and stop supporting Saudi Arabia in killing Yemeni children and the elderly to prevent more damage to the region.
The remarks by the Iranian minister came in reaction to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s visit to Saudi Arabia during which Tillerson said Iranian militias in Iraq should leave the country now that the fight against Daesh is coming to a close.
As regards US stance against the 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and Washington’s possible withdrawal from it, Zarif said even the staunchest allies of the US have voiced their opposition to US President Donald Trump’s policies on the deal.