Iran Blasts West for Supporting Terrorists in Syria

Rasa - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blasted the West for supporting the terrorists in Syria and supplying them with chemical weapons.

News ID: 428934

Date: 15 April 2017 - 22:27

RNA - "Suppliers of chemical weapons to the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the imposed war against Iran are now accusing Syria of using such weapons," Zarif told reporters on Friday.

Zarif made the remarks in reaction to the western countries' claims about the alleged deployment of chemical weapons by the Syrian government against the civilians.

The Iranian foreign minister reiterated that the global community deems unilateral moves by the West as unacceptable because it has suffered from it; therefore, it condemns such moves.

Zarif underlined the need for undertaking independent and impartial investigations on the chemical blast in Khan Sheikhoun without any prejudgments.

In relevant remarks on Friday, Zarif in a press conference with his Russian and Syrian counterparts; Sergei Lavrov and Walid Muallem, in Moscow renewed their stances on a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

The three foreign ministers insisted that the US and its allies must respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and help the Syrian crisis to be resolved through holding national dialogue.

"We held important talks with my colleagues (Syrian Foreign Minister) Walid Muallem and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, which allowed us to compare positions in connection with the latest developments surrounding the Syrian settlement," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister said that Moscow, Tehran and Damascus compared their stances on the latest events in Syria.

"Russia's proposal on the investigation of Idlib chemical attack is being met with resistance," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister reiterated that any reaction from the OPCW on the data provided by Moscow and Damascus concerning militants' use of chemical weapons in Aleppo was absent.

"Both Russia and Iran favor an OPCW investigation into the reported chemical attack in Idlib with the participation of specialists from different countries," Lavrov said, adding that claims of Moscow not trusting the organization are false as Russia just wants the probe to be transparent.

The Russian foreign minister said that the US missile attack on a Syrian airfield was aimed at the regime change.

The Syrian Foreign Minister then called the trilateral meeting with Lavrov and Zarif a "strong message" after the US strike in Syria.

On April 4, Syrian opposition claimed forces loyal to President Bashar Assad had used a chemical gas on people in the Northwestern province, killing nearly 80 and injuring 200. Assad argued his government has no chemical weapons after agreeing to have them destroyed in 2013. He also ruled out having used chemicals against own people.

On April 6, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in al-Shayrat, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city of Homs. US President Donald Trump said the attack was a response to the alleged chemical weapon use in Syria's Idlib on Tuesday, which Washington blames on the Syrian government.

Russia described the attack as an aggression against a sovereign state. Following the US military action, Russia decided to suspend its memorandum of understanding on air safety over Syria with the United States, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

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