Official Reiterates Political Solution to Syrian Crisis
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs said a "political settlement based on national dialogue" is the only practical approach to the Syrian crisis, and called support for extremist groups by some countries a "strategic mistake."
“The solution for Syria is purely political and on the basis of national dialogue,” Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in a meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman here in Tehran on Monday.
The Iranian diplomat also described the simultaneous support of certain sides for political disputes in Syria and backing for Takfiri and terrorist groups fighting in the crisis-ridden country as a strategic mistake.
Feltman, for his part, acknowledged Iran’s initiative for presenting a six-point plan to resolve the ongoing crisis in Syria, and praised Tehran’s close cooperation with the UN on the issue.
In December 2012, Iran’s foreign ministry released details of a six-point plan drawn up in Tehran to settle the Syrian conflict.
The plan included six practical ways including a call for sending humanitarian aid to Syrians following the end of all conflicts, lifting all economic sanctions imposed against the country, and facilitating the return of displaced Syrians to their homes, among other initiatives.
In relevant remarks on Monday, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei described foreign interference as the root cause of the ongoing conflicts across the region.
“The main reason behind the current situation in region is various meddling from outside the region,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated in a meeting with visiting Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said at the time.
The Leader also warned against involving religious and sectarian considerations in the political disputes, and said, “Unfortunately, with some regional countries’ support, a Takfiri group has been shaped which is in conflict with all Muslim groups. But supporters of this (Takfiri) group should know that this fire will burn them as well.”
While Iran and some other countries have called for a political settlement for Syria, some western countries are talking about military action against the Syrian governmnet without a UN mandate.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergi lavrov has said said the use of force without Security Council backing would be "a crude violation of international law."
