Update: Iranian FM arrives in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi leaders

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday said no need for fear of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers as it will bring peace and security to the Middle East.

"The achieved nuclear agreement would bring security and peace to the region, and there should be no fear as the Islamic Republic is reaching out to all for cooperation. This is our message," Zarif told reporters at a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari in Baghdad.

Zarif was referring to the Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, who did not conceal their grave concern on the Iranian nuclear agreement.

The Gulf countries believed that this agreement will give a bigger say to the Shiite Iranian government in the internal affairs of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Bahrain.

"It is time to open a new page in the region, as we have to go to dialogue to remove misunderstanding," Zarif said, adding that the region's Islamic countries "must not let a group use our culture, our ideologies and our religion to perpetrate crimes in the name of Islam and defame it."

As for the situation in Yemen, Zarif said that his country "rejects the use of force policy against the Yemeni people by the Saudi Arabia government, and we believe that it would be of no use."

However, Zarif let the door open for peaceful talks when he said "we will not hamper the dialogue with the region's states, including Saudi Arabia."

For his part, Jaafari said that the results of the nuclear deal "will be reflected positively on the economic and security situation in the region."

He said that Iraq was concerned about the Iranian nuclear file, because if the talks with the world powers failed there could be negative repercussions on the situation in the whole region.

Earlier in the day, Zarif arrived in Baghdad on an official visit to meet with the Iraqi leaders following a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

The Iranian minister is also scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and President Fuad Masoum during his visit which followed the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

Zarif's visit to Iraq came as part of his tour that started on Sunday to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq with the aim of briefing the high ranking officials of the three countries on the latest result of the nuclear talks, in addition to exchanging views on bilateral relations and recent regional developments.

Earlier in the day, Zarif visited the holy Shiite city of Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad, and met with Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, during which Zarif presented details about the nuclear talks as well as the threats that endanger the region.

"We make the tour in the Gulf region immediately after the end of the nuclear talks to discuss the dangers that threaten all of us," Zarif told reporters after his meeting with Sistani.

He said that Sistani has called for a joint coordination among all countries in the region to combat extremism and terrorism.

On July 14, the comprehensive agreement, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was clinched after more than two weeks of tough negotiations in Vienna, Austria's capital city, between Iran and the P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany.

The landmark deal is expected to put Iran on the path of sanctions relief but more strict limits on its nuclear program.

Iran has been a target of UN sanctions due to its alleged attempts of building nuclear weapons. The West accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of civilian nuclear programs, which Iran denies. Endit