Spokesman: Syrian Crisis Would Not Be Limited To Its Borders

Erzurum, Turkey, Dec 23, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said if western countries interfere in Syria, the crisis would not be limited to Syria. In a press conference in Erzurum on Saturday evening, Mehmanparast answered a question on Iran's reaction to Turkey and NATO interference in Syria and said a number of Iranian military officials believe that after downfall of dictators in the region, the Middle East is in a very sensitive situation. Referring to the US support for dictatorial governments of Egypt, Yemen, and regimes of Saddam and Pahlavi in Iraq and Iran, the spokesman said that how come the US government pretends to support the people of the region and even considers military interference in Syria. He added that if Syrian crisis intensifies and the western countries interfere, the conflicts would not be limited to Syria. Referring to confrontation of Syrian government with armed groups supported by the west, he asked if an armed group with support from the west works in one of the countries of the region, will that country keep silent? Mehmanparast said Iran believes military solution is not an appropriate settlement for Syria, adding that west and armed groups in Syria oppose free election, because they know that majority of people do not support them in such an election. Concerning developments in Bahrain, the spokesman said that in Bahrain 70 percent of people can only vote for 20 percent which is not fair and has caused protests. Answering a question on statements attributed to Iranian officials that deployment of Patriot Missile system in border area of Turkey and Syria may cause intensifying the conflicts and lead to the third world war, Mehmanparast denied that any Iranian official has ever said such a thing./end