Iran urges international efforts for effective, practical prevention of terrorism

Iran's foreign minister has called for more efforts by the international community to counter terrorism in all its forms.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was speaking in a phone conversation with his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, on Saturday.

Referring to the recent terrorist attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman, which left hundreds of people dead or wounded, Iran's top diplomat highlighted the need for more efforts by the international community to counter all forms of terrorism in a more effective and practical manner.

The terrorist explosions, which were claimed by the US-backed Daesh Takfiri group, were carried out near the burial site of Iran’s late anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of his martyrdom. The blasts left 89 people, including 76 Iranians and 13 Afghans, dead and wounded 286 others, some of them in critical condition.

"Iran is the most honest supporter of security and stability in the region and the world," Amir-Abdollahian added.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry: 11 terrorists involved in Kerman attacks arrested

Operation equipment has also been discovered in the hideouts of the terrorists, including two explosive vests.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister pointed to measures taken by France concerning the issue of Palestine and cessation of the Israeli regime's genocidal war in Gaza.

Last month, Paris called for an "immediate" ceasefire in the regime's onslaught on Gaza, which was launched on October 7 following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by the territory's resistance groups. The Israeli aggression has so far claimed the lives of more than 22,700 people, most of them women and children.

France calls for 'immediate' ceasefire in Gaza after consulate staff killed in Israeli bombing

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has called for an “immediate” ceasefire in the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

Amir-Abdollahian said taking practical steps to stop massacre of civilians, facilitate transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza, prevent forced displacement of the people of Gaza, and let Palestinians determine their own fate through democratic means is necessary to end violence in the region. 

"The only way to prevent further spread of conflicts in the region and establish lasting peace is paying due attention to root causes of [the existing] challenges and having serious resolve to do away with them," he added.

The Iranian foreign minister said the occupying regime of Israel and the United States are behind the ongoing genocide in Gaza, adding, "You cannot eliminate the root causes of instability in the region and express concern about the security in the Red Sea and the [West Asia] region without taking [the Israeli] occupation into account."

"The security of Gaza, the [occupied] West Bank, and the [entire] region are interconnected," Amir-Abdollahian said, asserting, "War is not the solution."

For her part, the French foreign minister reiterated Paris' condemnation of the terrorist attack in Kerman.

Voicing concern over escalation of tensions across the region, she also urged Iran to play its role in preventing further expansion of the regional conflicts.

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