Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned Friday that the sectarian violence in Syria may spill over to Europe and the US

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned Friday that the sectarian violence in Syria may spill over to Europe and the US.

At a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul, Zarif noted that the danger of the ongoing sectarian conflict in Syria is graver than the threat of chemical weapons stockpile in the country.

He warned that the ramifications of the sectarian violence in the Middle East can spread to “London, New York, Madrid and Rome.”

Referring to the issues regarding Tehran’s nuclear energy program, Zarif noted that the Islamic Republic is seeking to remove all pretexts for the sanctions imposed against Iran in the nuclear talks with the six major world powers.

“Through dialogue, we try to eliminate any pretext for the sanctions,” he said.

The Iranian foreign minister noted that Tehran aims to find a framework to remove the pretexts. He also said that the anti-Iran sanctions only strengthen the resolve of the Iranian nation.

“It is necessary for both sides involved in the sanctions to think of a solution than to conjure up ways to exert pressure on the public,” Zarif stated.