Zarif: Syrian crisis reaches critical point

The crisis in Syria has reached a critical point, and the international community is beginning to understand better what is happening there, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the Middle East.

"We are encouraged by the fact that we notice a growing understanding of the reality of the situation," he said, stressing that Iran will continue to seek an end to the conflict. The Foreign Minister also urged all parties "to support the inter-Syrian political settlement." According to Zarif, it is "the only way out of the situation."

The Iranian diplomat said that radicalism and interfaith hostility are "common challenges facing everyone in the region and beyond," that require a joint response. He also recalled the words of Hassan Rouhani, who called for the establishment of a united front to counter extremism, TASS reports.