Tension between Sunni and Shia, biggest threat to world security, Iran's FM says

Tension between Sunni and Shia Muslims is the biggest threat to world security, Iran's foreign minister has said.

Mohammad Javad Zarif told the BBC in comments published on Monday, "I think we need to come to understand that a sectarian divide in the Islamic world is a threat to all of us," in reference to the potential spillover of the war in Syria.

Zarif called for regional powers to come together to try to solve the Syria conflict.

"This business of fear-mongering has been a prevalent business," he said. "Nobody should try to fan the flames of sectarian violence. We should reign it in, bring it to a close, try to avoid a conflict that would be detrimental to everybody's security."