Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the policies of the United States and the Israeli regime toward the Middle East are the root cause of the emergence of extremism and terrorism in the region.

Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with Gabriela Cuevas Barron, the chair of the foreign relations committee of Mexico’ Senate of the Republic, in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister called for action to fight against terrorism within the framework of international and regional cooperation.

He said the Islamic Republic of Iran had warned against the spread of terrorism and violence as well as the emergence of terrorist groups such as the Takfiri ISIL group in the region.

Zarif added that in 2013, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani proposed the World Against Violence And Extremism (WAVE) initiative, which was adopted by the United Nations in the form of a resolution.

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to approve Rouhani’s WAVE proposal on December 18, 2013. The initiative calls on all nations across the globe to denounce violence and extremism. The Iranian president made the proposal in his address to the UN Disarmament Conference in New York on September 25, 2013.

Elsewhere in his remarks during the meeting with Barron, Zarif called for the expansion of cooperation between Tehran and Mexico City in fighting drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime.

He added that Iran and Mexico can also upgrade their cooperation in the fields of automotive industry, aerospace, environment, oil, gas and renewable energies.

The Mexican politician, for her part, called for the expansion of relations between her country and Iran, saying that Mexico has always been seeking to improve relations with the Islamic Republic.

Pointing to regional issues, Barron said dialogue is the only way to resolve the Middle East crises. She also highlighted Iran’s strategic role in settling conflicts in the region.

IA/HSN/HJL