Iran "concerned" over Egypt's death sentences

Iran expressed "concern and regret" on Tuesday over an Egyptian court's recent death sentences for former President Mohammed Morsi and his supporters.

"Such verdicts, which encourage violence and exclusion (of opponents), hurts Egypt's image and credibility," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said.

"We hope such approaches would be avoided," Afkham said.

Iran believes that political problems in Egypt is solvable through national dialogue and political compromise, she added.

Morsi was sentenced to death on Saturday over charges arising from a mass jailbreak in 2011, along with his Muslim Brotherhood supporters, making him the first Egyptian president who has ever faced a death verdict.

Morsi was ousted by the army in July 2013 amid mass protests against his one-year rule. He has since faced a number of charges, including inciting violence, conspiring with foreign powers and killing protesters.

Egyptian authorities branded the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization in 2014. Endit