Iranian, Syrian FMs discuss chemical weapons use in Syria

During a telephone conversation on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem discussed the use of chemical weapons in Syria by terrorist groups fighting the Syrian government.
The Syrian official strongly denied the news reports claiming that government forces had used chemical weapons, saying that terrorists and takfiri groups had committed the crime.

Muallem also said that the allegation against the Syrian government was part of a new plot by the enemies of the Syrian people.

In addition, he said that the Syrian government would cooperate with UN inspectors and would allow them to visit areas affected by chemical weapons used by terrorists.

Zarif, for his part, condemned the use of chemical weapons by terrorist groups and said that the use of such weapons ran counter to international regulations and moral principles.

He also said that any approach to the Syrian crisis but making efforts to help resolve the issue through peaceful means would be doomed to failure and would have dire consequences.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani has also said, “We completely and strongly condemn the use of chemical weapons. And the government of Iran, which is itself a victim of chemical weapons, advises the international community to make every effort to prevent the use of this type of weapons anywhere, particularly in Syria.”

According to Reuters, the Syrian opposition has claimed that government forces used chemical weapons in suburbs of Damascus on Wednesday.