FM reiterates Iran's all-out opposition to chemical weapons use

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with UN Undersecretary General Jeffrey D. Feltman underlined the necessity for finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and underlined Tehran's discontent with the use of chemical weapons in Syria. During the meeting in Tehran on Monday, Zarif stressed that only a political solution can settle the crisis in Syria, and announced Iran's readiness to fully cooperate with the UN in pursuing a political trend in this regard. He also referred to the current problems in Syria, including the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people, and said Iran is strongly opposed to the use of such weapons by any side and stream. Zarif underscored Iran's active and constructive role in solving the regional problems, and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has and will use all its potentials and power to maintain and strengthen peace, stability and security in the region." His remarks came while the UN inspectors are in Syria to clear the facts about the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian civilians. The Syrian government complains that the foreign-backed terrorists have targeted people by such weapons while the western media and officials claim that the Syrian government has used them against its own people. The Syrian foreign ministry announced earlier today that the Damascus government and the UN agreed to a mutual understanding that entered into force immediately, allowing the UN inspection team to investigate the alleged chemical weapons use in Damascus countryside on August 22. The agreement came during a meeting between Syria's Deputy Prime Minister Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and the UN High Representative for Disarmament, Angela Kane, earlier this morning. Muallem expressed Syria's readiness to cooperate with the UN investigators to expose the false allegations of the terrorist groups accusing the Syrian forces of using chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta. Following the chemical attack on the Damascus countryside on Wednesday, Zarif dismissed some Arab media allegations that the Syrian army has used the chemical weapons, stressing that the terrorist groups have committed the criminal act. Zarif made the remarks in a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday evening. During the phone talk, he underlined Iran’s firm stance against the use of mass destruction weapons, and strongly condemned utilization of any kind of chemical weapons. Zarif underlined that if this news proves to be true, the crime must have definitely been committed by terrorist and takfiri groups, because they have actually shown that they are ready to commit any crime. Commenting on certain western media allegations accusing the Syrian government of using such weapons, he asked, "While the UN inspectors are in Damascus and the government has successfully driven back the terrorists, why should they do such a move?" "This criminal act had been done by the terrorists, because escalating the crisis in Syria and internationalizing it is in their favor," the Iranian foreign minister reiterated. Reminding the condemnation of the event by the Syrian government, Zarif pointed out that Iran is in close contact with the Syrian government to give a thought to the different aspects of the issue.