Iran stresses opposition to foreign interference in Syria

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has reiterated the Islamic Republic’s opposition to foreign interference in Syria, urging a domestic solution to the ongoing turmoil in the Arab country.

“We protest the interference of outsiders in Syria as well as the dispatch of mercenaries into the country and we consider this as meddling in the affairs of another state,” Salehi said Thursday.

He added that sending weapons into Syria was also a mark of “clear interference” in the country’s domestic affairs.

“We believe that the opposition needs to sit [at the negotiation table with the government] as soon as possible to end the bloodshed through an understanding; as 50 to 100 defenseless people are being killed across Syria every day due to the obstinacy of a group of people who have cast questions over the identity of the true opposition,” the top Iranian diplomat added.

He said that the true opposition should help end violence in the country and seek an all-Syrian solution to the crisis.

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

Damascus also says the West and its regional allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are supporting the militants and there are reports that a large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

Iran has repeatedly condemned any foreign interference in Syria and denounced certain countries’ support for militants carrying out terrorist activities in the Arab country.