Iranian Top Security Official:

US Meddling in Syria Fruitless

Rasa - Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani blasted Washington for interfering in Syria's affairs, and said that the US will get nowhere.

News ID: 429299

Date: 28 April 2017 - 22:24

RNA - "The US military interferences in Syria under the false excuses will bring about no outcome, but US failure in this Arab country," Shamkhani said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin's Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev in Tehran on Thursday.

He pointed to cooperation among Iran, Russia and Syria to fight terrorist groups, and said, "We have always been committed to the settlement of the Syrian crisis through political means; we believe that military solution is the sole way for tackling the groups who are not ready to lay down their arms."

The Russian envoy, for his part, supported Iran's constructive role in establishing peace in Syria, and said, "Moscow continues to take military action against terrorists and those who are not committed to a political solution for tackling terrorism."

Lavrentiev underlined that Russia would continue its combats with the ISIL and other terrorist groups, and said, "In the meantime, political solution for settlement of crisis in the region should also be pursued."

Lavrentiev arrived in Tehran on Thursday morning.

In relevant remarks earlier in April, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi underlined that Iran's stance on supporting the Syrian nation and government in their ongoing fight against the terrorist groups has not changed.

"Iran has adopted a clear stance concerning Syria," Qassemi said.

He reiterated that Iran strongly condemned the chemical attack in Syria and was the first to ask for formation of an international fact-finding committee to look into the issue.

"What happened in Syria was suspicious," the foreign ministry spokesman said.

Qassemi underlined that for years, Syria has been under a United Nations' ban regarding possession of chemical weapons and the country had been disarmed.

“It was crystal-clear and there was no need for more clarity,” he said.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman added that but evidently, despite the fact that Syria had been disarmed, some terrorist groups with the help of some regional countries managed to access special armaments and funneled them into Syria.

“If there is anything, we should look for them elsewhere,” Qassemi said referring to the possible source of the chemical weapons used in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

Washington alleges that the Syrian government has used the chemical weapons against its own people, something Damascus strongly rejects.

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