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Iran condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria

24 August 2013 19:24 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday strongly condemned the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria recently, but he did not blame any side for its use, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Expressing regret over the huge death and injury tolls of innocent people in the alleged chemical weapon attack in Syria, Rouhani said Iran, as a victim of chemical weapons, urges the international community to take practical actions against the use of chemical weapons anywhere in the world.

"Regional instability would only benefit Israel," he said, expressing hope that through vigilance of regional people and states, the entire region will witness stability and tranquillity in the near future.

On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif condemned what he called "use of chemical weapons by terrorists" in Syria. A day ago, he dismissed claims that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against civilians.

The main Syrian opposition group claimed that the Syrian government used chemical weapons on Wednesday and killed as many as 1,300 people in Damascus suburbs. But Damascus denied the accusation.

"There are some proofs that terrorist groups used chemical weapons in Syria," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi told semi-official ISNA news agency on Saturday without giving details about the "proofs."

"Simultaneity of the use of chemical weapons with the presence of the UN investigators in Syria is, in itself, an indication of some plots to accuse the Syrian government and to expand dimension of the conflicts and crisis" in the country, Araqchi said.

"We are in close contact with the Syrian government and other countries (over the issue) and urge clarifications about the incident," he added.

A UN inspection team is in Syria to investigate previous claims of chemical weapons use in the northern Khan al-Assal town and two other undisclosed locations. The team arrived upon the call of the Syrian government whose leaders have accused the Western-backed rebels of using chemical substances in attacking pro-government areas in Khan al-Assal earlier this year.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday that the key decision was nearing on Syria, as the U.S. military intensifies planning on possible bombing targets inside Syria.

Also on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reports indicated that the Pentagon has begun updating target lists for possible air strikes on a range of Syrian government and military installations, as part of contingency planning should Obama decide to act after what experts said may be the worst chemical-weapons massacre in more than two decades.

In response, Araqchi on Saturday warned against any possible U. S. strike on Syria, saying that "Iran has repeatedly said the Syrian crisis has no military solution and any provocative remarks and moves will further complicate the situation in the region."

"Syria's issue will be settled only through dialogue and peaceful means," he said, emphasizing that "Besides, there is no international authorization for a military intervention in Syria."

Provocative statements by the U.S. officials about sending warships to the Mediterranean Sea will not help solve the Syrian issue and "We hope that the officials in the White House be wise enough not to enter such a dangerous battle."

Also, the head of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Majlis (parliament), Alaeddin Boroujerdi, told ISNA Saturday that "If military intervention in Syria starts, the Zionist regime (of Israel) will not remain safe" from the impacts of war.

However, it does not seem that the U.S. officials will repeat the mistakes they made in Iraq and Afghanistan by another military intervention in Syria, said Boroujerdi.

Iran is a main ally of the Syrian government in the region and has encouraged the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah to fight on the side of the governmental forces against the Syrian rebels, which it considers as "terrorist groups."