Iran criticizes foreign support of Syrian armed groups

The Iranian ambassador to Damascus has cited foreign support of armed groups in Syria as a major challenge facing the six-point peace plan.

Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani on Wednesday outlined major challenges to the plan discussed during his earlier meeting with the joint UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, in Damascus.

US senator John McCain on Thursday called for providing weapons for the Syrian opposition. “It is time to act. It is time to give the Syrian opposition the weapons in order to defend themselves,” McCain said.

Meanwhile senator Joe Lieberman also said that the situation in Syria “will not get better until the rest of the world at least gives the arms” to the Syrian rebels.

Sheibani added that armed groups’ failure to comply with the plan and certain countries’ continued support of these gangs are among major threats to the proposed peace solution.

The Iranian diplomat said that the relentless dissemination of propaganda by certain media outlets with the aim of provoking the public opinion is another challenge to Annan’s plan.

Among other challenges are the hasty bids and reactions by certain countries who seek to suggest that the Annan plan has failed, Sheibani went on to say.

The Iranian envoy noted that both the Syrian government and the opposition need to heed the demands required by the plan as it is a reciprocal, not a one-sided solution.

The Syrian equation is not one-sided and it needs to be viewed from all different aspects, he pointed out.

Sheibani further said Iran has voiced its support for the plan and expressed readiness to contribute to its successful implementation during Annan’s earlier visit to Tehran.

Annan proposed a six-point plan to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the resolution of the turmoil in Syria.

The plan, effective from mid-April, calls for the establishment of a cease-fire between the government and the opposition, allowing humanitarian groups to access the population, releasing detainees and starting a political dialogue.

The West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of killing protesters, but Damascus blames ”outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.