Syrian People, Not Others, Should Decide Syria’s Fate: Iranian FM
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday reaffirmed Tehran’s support for the peaceful resolution of ongoing crisis in Syria, reiterating that the Syrian people are the ones who should determine their future.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy on Syria is based on clear, logical, and firm principles,” Zarif said in a meeting with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad here in Tehran.
“We believe the Syrian people themselves should decide their future and fate,” the Iranian minister stressed, adding that other countries can at most play the role of a facilitator in the process of resolving the crisis in Syria.
Earlier on October 30, several countries including Russia, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates attended a fresh round of talks in Vienna aimed at finding ways to end the crisis in the Arab country.
In a joint statement after the Friday talks, Iran, the US, Russia and 14 other powers called for a nationwide truce in Syria.
The participants also called for a renewal of stalled UN-brokered talks between the government and opposition and fresh elections.
Zarif on Wednesday hailed the Vienna talks as “a good move towards a political solution”, adding that Iran clearly voiced its positions on Syria in the conference.
Mekdad, for his part, appreciated Tehran’s supports for the Syrian nation and government, saying Iran’s measures will be recorded in history.
“We are grateful for your previous and recent efforts in helping resolve the crisis,” he said, adding that the Syrian nation will always remember Iran’s positive role.
Syria has been in a civil war since 2011, with opposition factions and terrorist groups such as ISIL and the Nusra Front fighting the Syrian Army.
More than 250,000 people have been killed so far in Syria due to the violence perpetrated by the terrorists.
