Deputy FM: Iran to Step Up Efforts to End Syrian Crisis Peacefully
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A top Iranian diplomat said Tehran would continue efforts aimed at finding a peaceful settlement for the Syrian crisis, and expressed hope the US would abandon its push for military attack.
“Tehran will continue its efforts aimed at peaceful resolution of the Syrian crisis through political initiatives,” Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Tuesday.
He also expressed hope the US would make its best to peacefully resolve the prolonged crisis in Syria, and added that "we have reports and information which show some terrorist groups have imported chemical weapons and poison gases into Syria."
Amir Abdollahian warned the US against resorting to military force against Syria, saying in case Washington "made the strategic mistake of waging war on Syria" the Syrian army and other groups and parties that support its government could create very tough conditions for the Americans, Russia’s RIA Novosty news agency reported.
Earlier today, Iran warmly welcomed the recent initiative presented by Russia to resolve the chemical weapons crisis in Syria, and said the plan can be effective in preventing war in the region.
Russia opened up a possible diplomatic solution to the Syrian chemical weapons crisis on Monday with a pledge to persuade the Syrian government to hand over its chemical arsenal to international supervision to be destroyed.
"If the establishment of international control over chemical weapons in that country would allow avoiding strikes, we will immediately start working with Damascus," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Speaking to reporters here in Tehran on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham welcomed the Russian plan, and stated, “This is an initiative proposed by Russia to end Syrian crisis and the Islamic Republic of Iran always welcomes the Russian initiatives and plans.”
“The initiative can be effective in preventing military attack in the region,” she stated, adding that Iran as a victim of chemical weapons wants to prevent any kind of military attack on Syria.
