TEHRAN, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Foreign ministers from Iraq, Iran and Syria met Tuesday in Tehran on the sidelines of the World Against Violence and Extremism conference.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jafari, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem discussed regional security issues, terrorism and areas for collaboration.


Syria's state-run news agency reported the focus of the joint efforts was on combating the Islamic State, al-Nusra Front and other al-Qaida offshoots.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham emphasized that Tehran can play "a key role in solving this crisis," the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

At a press conference Tuesday, Zarif underlined the necessity for regional cooperation with Iraq and Syria to succeed in countering terrorism and extremism.