MOSCOW (Sputnik) — German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he had agreed with EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini to invite Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to visit the European Union for the discussion of the ongoing protests in Iran.
'We have agreed with the EU foreign affairs chief to invite the Iranian foreign minister next week, if possible," Gabriel said in an interview with ZDF TV channel that was released on Sunday.
Several major cities in Iran, including Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Rasht, have been engulfed by protests since December 28, 2017. The people have taken to the streets to protest against unemployment, poverty, and the rising cost of living, as well as policies of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Iranian authorities have repeatedly stated that they are completely controlling the situation with the protests in the country.
Earlier Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Gholam Ali Khoshroo claimed that Tehran had "hard evidence" that the violence in the protests was incited from abroad, adding that instigators based in the United States and Europe have been seen inciting violence during the protests.
