TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined that combating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group requires international cooperation, but not through occupation and military means.
"An international movement is needed to fight the ISIL and all countries should join hands to resolve the problem of terrorism; yet there is no need to occupation and military hardware to fight the ISIL," Zarif told reporters in a joint press conference with his Danish counterpart Martin Lidegaard in Mashhad, Northeastern Iran, on Sunday.
The Iranian foreign minister said extremism and radicalism are major world and regional issues today, as the ISIL and other terrorist groups intend to crush democracy and security in the region.
Zarif referred to his discussions with his Danish counterpart, and said that he and Lidegaard hold different viewpoints over Syria.
He underlined the rule of democracy in Iran, reminding that "73 percent of the Iranian people took part in (last year's) presidential election".
The Iranian foreign minister also pointed to Iran's nuclear program, and said, "We are trying to resolve the nuclear issue through dialogue and achieving this goal depends on the political will of the other side."
Zarif noted that the entire world is witnessing today that Iran is doing its best to resolve the nuclear issue, and said, "We are still looking for achieving a comprehensive solution through holding dialogue."
He reiterated that Iran is ready for any explicit and open dialogue with the other side, and said, "We hope that the other side will also show the same respect for us as this is a reciprocal issue."
Also speaking in the same press conference, the Danish foreign minister said that his country pursues the EU policy on Iran's nuclear issue, "but we are optimistic about the (nuclear) talks as these negotiations can be useful for the economy of entire Europe".
Meantime, Lidegaard pointed to the ISIL's crimes in Iraq and Syria, and stressed that the terrorists in Iraq should be confronted through an international coalition.
The top Danish diplomat arrived in Tehran on Sunday to discuss regional developments and expansion of ties with senior Iranian officials.
Lidegaard is the first Danish foreign minister who has traveled to Iran since 2005.
Several European countries have sought seriously to expand ties with Iran after Tehran and the six major world powers cut an interim deal over the country's nuclear program in Geneva on November 24, 2013.
Earlier today, Iraqi President Fuad Masum said Iraq needs qualified international aid, not the presence of foreign military to combat the ISIL terrorists.
"Iraq does not require the presence of international anti-terrorist forces, Iraq needs international assistance: experience, knowledge, weapons," Alsumaria TV quoted the Iraqi leader as saying.
However, Masum stressed that Iraq "is aware that it should not simply expel extremists from its territory, but to completely destroy them, so as not to export terrorism to the neighboring countries in the region". (FNA)