Iranian envoy stresses diplomatic solution to Syrian crisis

Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Qazanfar Roknabadi underlined that the only way out of bloodshed in Syria is encouraging all sides involved in the crisis to take part in comprehensive national dialogue. Speaking at a meeting with former Lebanese Prime Minister Salim El-Hoss in Beirut on Friday, the Iranian diplomat said that Iran has always supported a political solution to the turmoil in Syria, and welcomed any initiative based on a political approach.  Roknabadi added that Iran backs the International Geneva II Peace Conference and would attend the event provided that it will be held based on Syrian-Syrian dialog. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards across the country. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since some sporadic protest rallies turned into armed clashes. The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots to topple President Bashar al-Assad, who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances.