TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has met his counterparts from Romania, Egypt and New Zealand as well as the UN undersecretary general on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting.

Earlier on Friday, Zarif met with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer in New York, IRNA reported.

During the meeting, Zarif said that that diplomacy is the only way for settling the regional crises. Zarif and Maurer discussed the developments in Syria and Iraq as well as mutual cooperation.

Maurer appreciated Iran for its cooperation in facilitating the Red Cross's operations in the region.

Zarif and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu also discussed relations especially in economy.

Aurescu said he was interested in travelling to Iran with an economic delegation in order to seek trade opportunities and launch a joint economic commission. Zarif welcomed the idea and it was agreed that the trip take place in 2015.

Zarif and New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully also urged greater economic ties. Murray also expressed willingness to travel to Tehran to help strengthen ties. The two arranged for a visit by McCully to Tehran before the year’s end.

Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian foreign minister, and his Iranian counterpart in their meeting reviewed regional crises, urging cooperation to tackle them.

SP/P