Syrian people must decide own fate: Iran spokesman

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has stressed Tehran’s opposition to foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, saying that the Syrians must be allowed to decide their own fate.

“Ceasing conflicts, paving the ground for holding national dialogue and holding a free and democratic election are the solutions to Syria’s problem,” Mehmanparast said.

The Iranian official made the remarks in a meeting with Murat Karakaya, the director general of the Press and Information Department of the Turkish Prime Minister’s Office, on Monday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is opposed to the interference of Western countries in Syria,” Mehmanparast added.

Syria has been the scene of deadly unrest since March 2011. The violence has claimed the lives of thousands of Syrians including a large number of Syrian soldiers and security forces.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the armed militants operating in Syria are foreign nationals.
“The persistence of instability and the continuation of violence are what the Westerners want in Syria in line with providing for the interests of the Zionist regime (Israel),” Mehmanparast said.

The Iranian official further cautioned the regional states against taking measures that would facilitate the military interference of Western countries in Syria.

Karakaya, for his part, stressed the importance of expanding ties between Iran and Turkey and said, “Establishing peace and stability in the region are important for both countries.”

Referring to the cultural and historical commonalities between Iran and Turkey, Karakaya added that Ankara is ready to expand media cooperation with Tehran.

Heading a media delegation, Mehmanparast arrived in Istanbul on Saturday to hold talks with Turkish officials.