IRNA - UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has described Iran as one of the biggest civilizations in the Middle East and also as a regional power.


Hunt made the remarks in an interview with British media �BBC� on Sunday.

As the first Western foreign minister after US withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Hunt had a tour to Iran on November 19.

In his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, both sides discussed issues of bilateral importance.

Meanwhile, Zarif in Twitter message said �Hosting British FM @Jeremy_Hunt in Tehran today. Reviewed issues of mutual interest, especially maintaining the #JCPOA and Europe�s commitment to normalize economic relations with Iran. Also discussed how to end the catastrophic war and humanitarian nightmare in Yemen.�

In his interview with BBC, Hunt repeated UK's request for freedom of Zaghari and voiced assurance that Iran will heed London's demand.

On Saturday, Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said the UK' debt to Iran has nothing to do with the case of Nazanin Zaghari.

'These are totally different issues with diversified nature,' said Qasemi Saturday night, while referring to the news published in certain section of British media and cyberspace that Jeremy Hunt, the UK Foreign Secretary, wished to secure release of a security convict in exchange for payment of a several-hundred-million-pound debt to Iran.

'Such news is totally rejected and negated; I suppose such an issue, raised by certain media this way and through forged way by comparing the two issues, is out of ignorance and inspired by some special political centers to pile up pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran and in line with totally planned goals.'