Zarif Sees Policy as Only Way to Solve Problems in Syria

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem underlined that the problems in Syria don’t have a military solution.

“We consider the solution to problems in Syria as political and don’t see any prospect for a military solution,” Zarif said during the meeting in Damascus on Wednesday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that respecting Syrians’ sovereignty and self-determination through voting and non-interference of foreigners in the internal affairs of the people, specially the subject of leaderships of Syria, are issues to be decided by the Syrian people,” he added.

Muallem, for his part, described Iran’s achievements in nuclear talks with the world powers as highly important in promoting diplomacy and talks to settle the regional problems.

In relevant remarks in a meeting with Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel on Wednesday, Zarif underlined that the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the world powers had led to a political opening for the region.

“We believe that removing the nuclear obstacle from the world’s agenda has led to an opening in the region,” Zarif said during the meeting in Beirut as the first leg of his regional tour which also took him to Syria and Pakistan. He is also due to visit India.

He also elaborated on Iran’s policies in the region, and said the Lebanese groups and people should decide their own fate through dialogue and talks and no one should be allowed to push back their decision. “We believe that no one can veto the Lebanese will to settle the problems in the country, and we encourage national consensus among the Lebanese to elect a president based on constructive talks and with the help of all countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Moqbel, for his part, underscored Zarif’s influential role in the attainment of the recent nuclear agreement, and said, “We are aware of Mr. Zarif’s extensive and hard efforts in the achievement of this big agreement with the world powers; we are pleased with the agreement and hope to witness the effects of these talks and diplomacy on the settlement of problems in Lebanon and the region.”

Iran and the world powers reached a final agreement in Vienna on July 14 to end a 13-year-old nuclear standoff.

A week later, the UNSC unanimously endorsed a draft resolution turning into international law the JCPOA reached between Iran and the 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) group of countries over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Now the US Congress and the Iranian parliament have less than 60 days to review the deal to approve or reject its practice.