Iran Warns of Spread of Syria Insecurity
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson warned that insecurity in Syria won’t remain confined to the Arab country as terrorism will plague the other areas if it is not fought.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference on Monday, Esmaeil Baqaei pointed to the negotiations that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has been holding during visits to Damascus and Ankara, saying, “We all have come to the conclusion that any sort of insecurity in Syria won’t be limited to Syria alone.”
“We are all aware of the fact that terrorism would not be concentrated in a single place and spreads to other areas,” he warned.
Describing Turkey as an influential actor in the region, Baqaei said the Syrian foreign minister has made it clear that Turkey has nothing to do with the eruption of the crisis in Syria.
“Our Turkish friends are as much concerned as we are about the course of developments in Syria,” the spokesman added.
He said Turkey is a major neighbor of Iran and Syria that has played a “key role” in the Astana peace process. Baqaei also hailed Turkey for playing a “fruitful and constructive role” in de-escalation of tensions in Syria.
The Iranian spokesman described the Astana format as the “most durable and successful mechanism” for controlling the crisis in Syria, saying the three guarantor states (Iran, Turkey and Russia) have pushed to contain the tensions.
“The Astana process is still alive and the international community is mindful of its influence. We are still committed to that process and believe that the other effective countries hold the same view as well.”
Baqaei further denounced the unlawful presence of the US forces in Syria as an act of violation, saying, “It is clear that one of the reasons for the sedimentation of terrorism in Syria has been the occupation (of Syria) by the American military forces.”
Terrorist groups in Syria claim that they are pushing towards the northern city of Hama after taking control of nearby Aleppo in a lightning offensive that started last week.
The attempted southern advance comes on the fifth day of the surprise terrorist offensive as Syrian and Russian forces have launched counterattacks, reportedly pounding opposition-controlled Idlib province and Aleppo with air attacks since Saturday.
Government forces under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have also been fortifying the northern province of Hama. The Syrian army overnight pushed back opposition fighters in its northern countryside.