Iran calls for truce and political solution to Syria crisis

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday called for reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis besides fighting the extremists in the country, official IRNA news agency reported.

"Unfortunately, some countries have sought military solutions to Syria crisis, while the way to settle this problem is political approaches as well as fighting the Takfiri groups," Zarif said upon arrival at Moscow airport for trilateral talks.

"We have always insisted on comprehensive ceasefire, availability of humanitarian aid (to the besieged people) and finding political solutions to the Syrian issue," he was quoted as saying.

Moscow talks will address cooperation for peaceful means as well as confrontation with the Takfiri groups, he added.

Iran associates Takfiri extremism in the Syrian conflicts with the followers of some Sunni Muslim ideology in Saudi Arabia and urges fight against them.

Zarif is scheduled to attend a trilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on regional developments, including the conflict in Syria.

Zarif will also hold a separate meeting with Lavrov to discuss Tehran-Moscow relations.

Iran has urged Russia to strengthen strategic cooperation on regional and international issues, especially the ongoing crisis in Syria. Endit