Syria crisis harmful for region, world: Iran FM

Iran has warned against attempts to further fuel the deadly unrest in Syria, saying such moves will inflict irreparable damage on the international system.

“An increase in violence and bloodshed [in Syria] and delay in the process of the political resolution of the current crisis is not at all in the interest of neighboring countries [of Syria], the region and the world…,” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told the participants of the International Conference on Syria in Tehran on Wednesday.

He added that “Iran denounces financial and military support by certain parties for irresponsible armed groups [In Syria]” and condemns the fueling of religious and sectarian strife.

Iran is hosting the Friends of Syria Conference in Tehran under the banner of “Political Solution, Regional Stability.” The event is attended by representatives from 40 countries, seeking to find a political solution to the crisis in the Arab country.

During the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister further outlined the Islamic Republic’s measures taken so far aimed at ending the ongoing violence in Syria.

Salehi also reminded the participants that Tehran hosted a meeting between the Syrian government and the opposition in 2012, which was attended by some 200 participants representing the government and different ethnic, religious and political groups in Syria.

“The Islamic Republic has always backed all regional and international efforts with emphasis on [the need to find] a political solution [to Syria crisis], and within this framework, we have supported measures by [former mediator on Syria] Kofi Annan and efforts by UN-Arab League Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi,” Salehi said.

The Iranian diplomat added that Tehran welcomes Russian efforts to hold an international conference to discuss the Syria issue and considers it a step forward in dealing with the crisis.

Iran has already held two other meetings on the crisis in the Arab country.

The meeting in Tehran comes as Russia and the United States agreed on May 7 to convene an international conference on Syria in Geneva. However, no date has been set for the meeting yet.