ME extremists emboldened by double standards: Zarif

Applying double standards and wrong policies is a factor that has strengthened extremist groups in the Middle East, says Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

“Wrong policies of the past years have emboldened terrorist and extremist groups,” Zarif said at a meeting with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop in New York on Saturday.

“Today, confronting this inhumane phenomenon requires adoption of a unified strategy and setting out comprehensive and new guidelines,” IRNA quoted Zarif as saying.

In order to find a solution to extremism and terrorism, the “existing realities must be taken into consideration seriously,” he noted.

Zarif also stated that Iran has been serious in helping neighboring Iraq boost security and stability.

The two foreign ministers also made comments about the issue of immigration and problems about a number of Iranians who have migrated to Australia.