Iran Denies Kidnapped Iranians In Syria Were On A Mission

Tehran, Aug 6, IRNA – An informed source at Foreign Ministry on Sunday ruled out certain Arab media reports that the Iranian pilgrims kidnapped in Syria were members of Iran's armed forces military. According to the source, such allegations and hijacking the vehicle of Iranian pilgrims and kidnapping them lack any legal justification and it is due to non- commitment and irresponsibility of such media. A total of 48 Iranian pilgrims were kidnapped on Saturday, while they were on their way to their hotel of residence in Damascus. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in two separate telephone conversations with his Qatari and Turkish counterparts had asked them to do their best to free the Iranian pilgrims in Syria and they also pledged to do their best for freedom of Iranian pilgrims. In his phone conversation with Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, Salehi called on Qatar to mobilize efforts to get the kidnapped Iranian pilgrims released. The Qatari foreign minister said he would make every attempt to help release the kidnapped Iranian pilgrims. Al-Thani said he will consider the case and take speedy measures to tackle the issue./end