Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi deplored the comments of a US presidential candidate calling for banning Muslims from entering the US, stressing that the West’s attempts at fomenting Islamophobia will only boost terrorism and extremism. “Islamophobia in the West will not help the fight against terrorism,” Sarmadi said on Wednesday in a meeting with Finland’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka in Tehran, Tasnim News Agency reported. Decrying the comments of Donald Trump, the Iranian diplomat said, “Such remarks are gifts for extremist groups who will be able to recruit members with propaganda.” Trump on Monday called for blocking Muslims, including would-be immigrants, students, tourists and other visitors, from entering the US following a shooting spree in California by two individuals who authorities said were radicalized. Sarmadi also warned that terrorism is not confined to a specific region and could plague the whole world.
