Iranian Leader’s Top Aide: Only Bashar Assad Can Save Syrian Nation

“Bashar Assad has managed to administer the country through wisdom, courage and awareness in the past few years and he will lead this brotherly country to security and safety (in the future),” Velayati was quoted by al-Ahd news website as telling reporters after arrival in Damascus.

“It is not easy for any country to resist against a global war on its army and nation for five years and yet attain victory,” he added, praising the Syrian government’s excellent job in the last several years of war against terrorism.

Velayati underlined Iran’s continued support for the Syrian nation and government, and said, “Syria is actually the main chunk in the resistance front against enemies.”

Velayati also underlined on Friday that President Assad is Tehran’s redline.

“The Russian side is insisting that Bashar Assad should remain Syria’s president and the Islamic Republic of Iran is also determined that Assad should remain and this is our redline,” Velayati said.

He reiterated that Bashar Assad is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s redline since he has been elected by the Syrian people, and the Syrian people should finally decide about their country’s fate.

The remarks by the Iranian Supreme Leader’s top aide seem to be Tehran’s response to US Secretary of State John Kerry who said on Tuesday that President Assad should step down until August 1.

“The target date for the transition is the first of August,” Kerry told reporters in a news conference at the State Department on Tuesday.

“So we’re now coming up to May. So either something happens in these next few months, or they are asking for a very different track,” he added.

Earlier today, Velayati held a meeting with President al-Assad in Damascus and conferred on the latest regional developments, specially the two countries’ joint war on terrorism.

During the meeting, President Assad appreciated Iran’s efforts and assistance to his country in the fight against terrorist groups, and said the Iranian nation and government have used all their possibilities to this end and “we are much hopeful about gaining victory in this unbalanced war”.

Velayati, for his part, underlined the importance of fighting the phenomenon of terrorism that has posed a grave danger to the regional and global peace and security, and said, “Actually, the axis of resistance is standing and fighting for global peace and security.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran makes use of all its capacities to fight against the terrorists, who commit crimes against the oppressed regional nations, irrespective of their tendencies and with no heed to the ridiculous categorization of them into moderates and extremists,” he added.