Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in the Holy City of Najaf on Monday morning as part of a regional tour that took him to Kuwait and Qatar on Sunday

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in the Holy City of Najaf on Monday morning as part of a regional tour that took him to Kuwait and Qatar on Sunday.

Talking to reporters after a meeting with Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani, he said extremism and terrorism now pose a major threat to the whole region. He urged cooperation and coordination among all to fight the phenomenon.

Zarif underlined the effective role of religious Ulema and figures in promoting fight against extremism and terrorism and said the Grand Ayatollah too stressed the need for solidarity and unified actions to establish peace and stability in the region.

The FM said he briefed the Ayatollah on the process and outcomes of Iran’s nuclear negotiations with the 5+1.

Zarif stressed Iran’s support for Iraqi government in its attempts to fight terrorism and said Tehran will always stand by Baghdad in its efforts to tackle the issue.

His visit to Iraq comes in continuation of his regional tour after visits to Kuwait and Qatar on Sunday.

The Iranian foreign minister left Najaf for Karbala and then he returned to Najaf for pilgrimage and paying tribute to First Shiite Imam Ali (AS) and meeting with Ayatollah al-Sistani.

Zarif is to depart for Baghdad today to meet Iraqi President Fouad Massoum, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jafari and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri.

The Iranian foreign minister will discuss bilateral ties and regional developments as well as the Vienna nuclear agreement with senior Iraqi officials.