Iran condemns use of chemical weapons

TEHRAN,May 13(MNA) – The Iranian foreign minister condemned the use of chemical weapons, saying that Iran is keen to take part in an international conference on Syria proposed by the U.S. and Russia. “We condemn chemical weapons,” Ali Akbar Salehi told Germany’s Der Spiegel newsweekly in an interview published on Sunday, according to AFP. Iran was itself a victim of chemical warfare during its conflict with Iraq in the 1980s, Salehi said. Tehran is “categorically against all weapons of mass destruction”, he said. In addition, the Iranian official said that his country was willing to take part in an international conference on Syria proposed by the U.S. and Russia, which could take place later this month. Iran could “launch talks between Syria’s government and opposition,” the foreign minister said. Salehi added that he was “confident” that progress was being made in the conflict.