Iranian Foreign Minister says his first priority to start negotiations with Egypt

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has highlighted his priorities, Mehr news agency reported.

"It is vital to help sides in Egypt to find common grounds and stop the bloody clashes," he said. "It is vital to stop the violence in the country."

Zarif went on to note that he will start working in this direction on August 17.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry issued an official statement, saying that the current conflict in Egypt can fuel a civil war in the Muslim nation and jeopardize the interests of its citizens.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is closely following the ... developments in Egypt ... and stresses the urgency of remaining committed to a democratic process and using the means and tools of realizing democracy," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that the Egyptian-Egyptian clashes provoke violence in the country, undermine national unity and domestic solidarity.