Iran, Brazil urge political solutions to Syria's conflicts

TEHRAN, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) - Iran's foreign minister and his visiting Brazilian counterpart called here on Sunday for the political solutions to ongoing crisis in Syria.

Iran has proposed to its neighbors and regional states to open a dialogue to confront the threats of terrorism and extremism in the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said in a joint press conference with Brazilian Minister of External Relations Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira.

"It is good for regional states to think about the future of their countries and their people and to form a united front to counter this regional and global threat of terrorism," Zarif said.

The Islamic republic is ready to "seriously" engage with the regional states to form this coalition, he said, adding that Iran will also like to cooperate with any international efforts to put an end to the crises in Syria, Yemen, Libya and other places inflicted with plight of terrorism.

Zarif criticised what he called the "double standards" in the international efforts to fight terrorism and extremism.

For his part, Vieira said that military measures cannot be instrumental in solving problems in Syria.

Diplomacy and political means are the only options to end this issue in the Arab state, he said.

Fighting terrorism is a part of Brazil's policy and his country is a member of the treaty for international cooperation against terrorism, he added.

Vieira arrived in Tehran on Saturday for talks with senior Iranian officials on international issues as well as expansion of mutual ties in diverse areas.

During his trip, the Brazilian minister will also meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani. Endit