Rouhani, Putin Slam US Aggression on Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin censured the United States’ recent missile attack on an airbase in Syria, saying it was carried out in support of terrorists.
“We denounce the US missile strike on Syria and regard it as a flagrant violation of an independent country’s sovereignty (and) a measure that needs to be addressed and condemned in the UN Security Council,” Rouhani said in a telephone conversation with Putin on Sunday.
He described the move as a deplorable attempt to strengthen terrorists in Syria.
The Iranian president also slammed the use of chemical weapons in the Arab country, saying reports suggest that terrorists have access to chemical weapons and US attacks may encourage their further use of such weapons.
Rouhani went on to reiterate Tehran’s stance that the solution to Syria’s crisis is a political, not military, one, and said it is necessary under the current circumstances to boost cooperation between Iran, Russia and Syria in the fight against violence and terror.
Putin, for his part, said the US aggression was an unacceptable move and an attempt in support of terrorists.
He also stressed that while the UN has confirmed the Syrian government is in possession of no chemical weapons, attacking Syria under the pretext of using chemical weapons was a sham and a preplanned move.
The Russian president added that Washington’s measures in Syria will not help resolve the crisis in the Arab country.
US warships deployed to the eastern Mediterranean launched a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles against Shayrat Airfield, southeast of the western Syrian city of Homs, on Friday.
Washington ordered the assault after accusing the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad of carrying out a chemical attack against the town of Khan Shaykhun in the northwestern province of Idlib on Tuesday.
Damascus has categorically denied the accusation.
On Thursday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the country’s armed forces “did not and will not” use chemical weapons, even against extremist groups.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.
