Political consensus, not weapons, can solve Syria unrest: Larijani

Iran’s Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani says the unrest in Syria can only be resolved through political consensus, rejecting a military solution to the issue.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the Syrian crisis can only be resolved through clear negotiations between the government and the opposition,” Larijani said in a Wednesday meeting with Syrian Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Subhi Ahmad al-Abdullah.

He said that the Syrian crisis was a plot by the global arrogance carried out in the name of democracy.

He stressed that peace cannot be restored in Syria by weapons and military equipment and said only a political agreement that is made by all Syrian groups and that aims to carry out reforms is the solution to the unrest.

The Iranian official also praised Syria’s resistance against foreign pressures and said Majlis supports any measure aimed at developing ties with Syria in political, economic and trade sectors.

Abdullah, for his part, said that the crisis in Syria was a plot by the US and its regional allies aimed at weakening the anti-Israel resistance front.

He praised Iran’s support of Syria and called for the development of political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.