FM Spokesman: Political Solution, Only Way Out Of Syria Crisis

Tehran, July 17, IRNA – Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday Tehran still believed political solution was the only way out of crisis in Syria. Talking to reporters during his weekly press briefing, he said there are still no decisions fixed as to the date, agenda and participants in the international meeting on Syria to be held in Geneva, adding that there were serious differences of opinion in this regard. He noted that Iran will play a constructive role if it is invited to the meeting, stressing that any solution to the crisis in Syria has to be a broad one which would entail all parties involved in the crisis. Commenting on the ceasefire proposal during the holy fasting month of Ramadan suggested by some of the warring sides in Syria, he said the opinion in itself is a good one, noting that Iran supported absolute disarmament in Syria and holding of talks between opponents and the government. He further hoped that terrorist groups too would speedily come to the conclusion that crisis in Syria has no other way to stop but through political means. As for the wave of deporting Iranians from the UAE, he said that Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has already discussed the issue with his UAE counterpart. He said during the discussion Salehi expressed his grave concern about the issue and the UAE foreign minister promised to do his best to tackle the problem. He was also asked to comment on whether talks between the Iranian foreign minister and a number of members of the Egyptian interim government meant Iran officially recognized the new government in Egypt. Araqchi said Tehran believed the revolution in Egypt has not yet fully developed into its final stage. He said Iran believed the trend of democracy already initiated in Egypt would be a sustainable one and hoped situation in Egypt would be stabilized through endeavors to safeguard unity and the national integrity. Stressing that the Egyptians were a vigilant nation which have already set up a brilliant example of resistance against the Zionist regime, he said Iran was in favor of ending violence and clashes and cease of arrests in Egypt. Replying to a question about his opinion about rumors on formation of a free army by the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt, he said Iran rejected any such measures which would result in aggravating clashes among Egyptians. The foreign ministry spokesman also said no steps have been taken yet to restore ties between Iran and Canada following the apology extended to the Iranian nation by the Canadian foreign minister because of his improper remarks on the presidential election in Iran. Responding to another question about the reasons for concern on the part of a number of the US Congressmen about Iran-Argentina relations, he said this was astonishing given the long years of good and friendly ties between the two countries as well as numerous cases of cooperation including Argentina’s fuel supplies to Iran’s research reactor in the past two decades. He also noted that the Amia case caused bitterness in mutual ties, adding that the different aspects of the case have not been clarified yet due to the Zionist regimeˈs plots. Stressing that Tehran and Buenos Aires were determined to find a wise settlement of the issue, he said worries and anger of other countries were not at all to be understood. Turning to the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, Araqchi said despite the decision, there are still talks about the US maintaining some of its military bases in the country. However, he stressed, the continuing presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan tarnished security in the country and encouraged terrorist activities./end