Iran urges punishment of agents behind attack on its diplomat in Yemen

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad- Javad Zarif urged trial of agents behind a deadly terrorist attack on an Iranian diplomat in Yemen, official IRNA news agency reported Sunday. In a phone call, Zarif told his Yemeni counterpart Abu Bakr al- Qirbi that the Iranian government insisted trial and punishment of the agents behind terrorist act on the Iranian diplomat. The Yemeni minister in turn deplored the incident and condoled Zarif and the family of the assassinated diplomat on the tragic event. Al-Qirbi said the relations with Iran is of high importance for Yemen and necessary measures will be taken to enhance the safety of Iranian embassy and diplomats in Yemen. On Saturday, the commercial attache of the Iranian Embassy in Sanaa, Abolqasem Asadi, was shot to death by members of a terrorist group outside the Iranian ambassador's residence in the Yemeni capital. The assailants first tried to kidnap the diplomat, but opened fire when faced resistance, according to Press TV. In a statement, Iran foreign ministry strongly condemned the assassination of the Iranian diplomat as an "inhumane and terrorist" act targeting Muslim unity, said the report. "The terrorist incident in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa... revealed the violent and extremist face of Takfiri groups, and is only in line with the wicked interests of the enemies of the Muslim world in targeting the unity and solidarity among the Islamic people," the statement said. "The Islamic republic of Iran believes it is imperative that all countries, governments and international organizations take swift action to condemn such terrorist measures and adopt effective strategies to uproot this global problem," it added. Iranian foreign ministry will use all its political and legal capacities to investigate the case along with the Yemeni officials for the immediate capture, trial and punishment of those behind the assassination, the statement stressed.