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Iranian FM meets PM Sharif in Islamabad

In the same context, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem met Zarif and his accompanying delegation, discussing issues of mutual interest.

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In addition to his talks concerning the nuclear deal, Zarif is expected to discuss means of improving bilateral economic cooperation with Lebanese officials.

After four years in which diplomats made no headway towards peace, countries that support Assad and his opponents have been quietly discussing ways to end the war and tackle the common threat from IS.

He is due to head to Syria today by land.

This was Zarif’s second visit to Pakistan this year. He said the visit was “malicious and hostile to the hopes and aspirations of the Lebanese people”.

Iran has recently proposed an initiative for a political solution in Syria, starting with establishing an immediate cease-fire, forming a national unity government, rewriting the constitution, and conducting legislative elections under worldwide supervision.

Sayyed Nasrallah received Dr. Zarif and the associating delegation, said a statement released by Hezbollah Media Relations, adding that the meeting was attended by the Iranian ambassador in Lebanon Mohammad Fatahali.

Army artillery shelling and air strikes on Wednesday targeting Douma, 10km from central Damascus, killed at least 37 people, including women and children, and injured more than 120, The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Tehran’s landmark nuclear deal with world powers, negotiated by Zarif in Vienna last month, is nevertheless widely seen as providing an opportunity for achieving some kind of breakthrough on Syria.

Details of the plan will be revealed after discussions with the Syrian government in Damascus, where Zarif will travel on Wednesday, and “other players”, Marzieh Afkham, an Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman, told IRNA.

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Shortly afterward, government warplanes attacked several rebel-held suburbs of the capital. The Iranian FM said there had been unfortunate incidents where terrorists from the Pakistani side of the border had sneaked in and killed innocent people. Rather, he said that the countries of the region should come together to fight their shared enemies: “the Zionist entity and extremism, terrorism and sectarianism”.

Iran urges all regional countries to work together against terrorism extremism