“Instead of giving time to the Syrian government to implement reforms, foreign states are putting pressure on [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad and by arming the Syrian opposition they are trying to show the situation in the country is chaotic and critical to prevent the people’s real demands from being met through legal and peaceful channels,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday.
Addressing a meeting of the Iran-Oman Joint Strategic Committee, the deputy foreign minister stated that Iran would continue to support the [anti-Israeli] resistance front and Assad under any conditions.
“Iran’s relations with Syria are strategic [in nature] and we will try to [help Syria] overcome the existing problems through dialogue and negotiations,” he added.
“Iran’s viewpoint on the Syrian crisis hinges upon three axes: an end to violence in Syria, rejecting political and military intervention by foreign states and supporting Bashar Assad’s government and the necessity of domestic reforms [in Syria],” Amir-Abdollahian said.
The official stated that Iran has always advised the Syrian government to enter into negotiations with the opposition, but there is no serious opposition in Syria and there are many differences among opposition groups.
Amir-Abdollahian also praised Oman’s balanced positions on regional developments, including the Syrian situation.
Youssef Al-Harthi, Oman’s deputy Foreign Minister, said for his part that Iran and Oman have shared viewpoints on regional issues and believe the solution to problems in Syria and Bahrain should be sought through dialogue, not military pressure.
Syria has been the scene of unrest since mid-March, 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of President Bashar Assad’s government.
The West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of killing the protesters. But Damascus blames ”outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.
SS/PKH/HGH/IS
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