Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who enjoys more than 620,000 Facebook fans, posted a status on November 20 about his reaction to the recent terrorist attack on his country’s embassy in Beirut. Zarif condemned the attacks by calling for a “fundamental and coordinated” global effort to end extremism.
Reportedly the al-Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades took responsibility for Tuesday’s suicide bombing on the Iranian embassy in Lebanon. The attack killed 25, including an Iranian diplomat, and injured 150 individuals.
Zarif first heard about the incident at an airport in Rome on his way to meet with Italy’s Foreign Minister Emma Bonino. I translated parts of Zarif’s Facebook status below.
“After a two week delay, I succeeded in traveling to Rome for a 3-hour trip. In the Rome airport, I was notified that extremists have conducted a terrorist attack against our embassy in Beirut and have martyred our Cultural Attache and a number of other innocent people. It was necessary for me to have a phone conversation with our country’s ambassador in Beirut. I extend my condolences to him and the family of the martyrs, arranged the necessities for attending to the victims and their families, followed up on the issue, and spoke about preventing the recurrence of similar disasters. I also asked the Arab and African Deputy of the Foreign Ministry who was in Moscow for consultations to immediately go to Beirut and follow up in person. Since yesterday, the majority of countries’ officials have condemned this terrorist act and extended their sympathy to the Iranian people, government, and the families of martyrs. Truly, extremism is a serious threat to all in the region and the entire world. It is necessary to combat it in a fundamental and coordinated fashion globally.”