Zarif had announced his resignation Monday night, after he was not invited to meetings between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and Rouhani.
Rouhani said Tueaday Assad’s trip was not diplomatic and he merely wanted to thank Iran for providing support for Syria during the long-running conflict in the Arab country, alluding this was the reason behind the decision not to invite Zarif.
“Mr. Bashar Assad said my trip is not diplomatic and I’m in Iran only to thank you,” he said, while addressing a gathering at the Central Bank of Iran.
He also noted that part of Iran’s regional victory was thanks to IRGC and part of it to the foreign ministry and Iran’s economy.
Assad in the Monday meeting explicitly thanked the foreign ministry, he added.
Rouhani also praised the foreign ministry for standing against the US and especially thanked Zarif.
