IranSyria

Iran rejects demands for Assad removal

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Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has rejected demands that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should stand down.

“Iran rejects [remarks by] those who set conditions for the resolution of the Syria crisis and say that Bashar al-Assad must leave his post and that he cannot participate in any next election, because this is interference in Syria’s affairs,” Mehmanparast said in a press briefing in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Thursday.

Iran seeks the restoration of stability and security to Syria as well as the holding of public elections without foreign interference, he said, adding the Islamic Republic does not back any particular person or group.

“Iran believes that the Syrian people themselves should elect their government and president,” he said, stressing people’s choice must be respected.

Mehmanparast said that Iran clarified its policy towards Syria in the form of a six-point peace plan, which calls for an immediate end to all violent and armed acts and urges national dialog with the participation of all Syrian groups.

Many people, including large numbers of Syrian security forces, have been killed in the turmoil that began in Syria nearly two years ago. The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country.

Iran has stressed that the unrest in the Arab state must be resolved politically.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly condemned any foreign interference in Syria and denounced certain countries’ support of militants who carry out terrorist activities in the country.

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