Zarif Holds High Profile Meetings in New York

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met separately with his Algerian counterpart Abdelkader Messahel, Indonesian top diplomat Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi and United Nations Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman on Monday on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York. In addition to discussions on improving bilateral ties, the meetings covered a variety of regional and international issues, including the Iran nuclear deal, conflicts plaguing Syria, Yemen and Iraq, humanitarian assistance to Rohingya Muslims and developments surrounding a contentious independence referendum held in Iraqi Kurdistan Region on Monday, ISNA reported. The annual UN General Assembly opened on September 12 and lasts until December or January.

The UNGA's gathering of leaders from 193 member states, known as the General Debate, was held on Sept. 19-25, and President Hassan Rouhani addressed the high-profile event on its second day.

In his speech, he sharply criticized the antagonistic stance of US President Donald Trump toward the 2015 Iran nuclear accord with major powers, negotiated under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama.

Rouhani has urged an international response to end the atrocities in Myanmar, which he said are one of "the most heinous" ever seen in Asia.

Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims, one of the most persecuted minorities, have faced a deadly wave of violence unleashed by army troops since August 25, when some of the Myanmar Army posts came under attack allegedly by insurgents.