Iran: US military presence is to blame for terrorist activities in Syria

TEHRAN (Iran News) “The US military presence in Syria is a violation of certain principles and laws of Syria, and the continued presence of terrorists in Syria is a result of the US presence in that country,” he said at a weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman further argued that the Daesh terror group has never been a threat to the United States and its interests.

“If the purpose of the US military presence in Syria is to fight Daesh, then what is this group doing in Syria and how is the Tahrir al-Sham group operating in Syria?”, he noted, adding that swift action is need to stop the ongoing terrorist activities in Syria.

“The foreign minister started his trip from Syria yesterday and is in Turkiye today. Urgent action is needed to stop the activities of terrorists in Syria,” the spokesman said, in reference to the current regional tour by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The purpose of Araghchi’s trip to Syria was to convey the message of Iran’s support to Syrian authorities and to discuss the latest developments in the Arab country, Baghaei said, adding that the presence of the Iranian Foreign Minister at a Syrian restaurant sent the message that Damascus was safe.

At the diplomatic level, it is our duty and that of other countries to urge the international community to fight terrorism, which is the purpose of the top Iranian diplomat’s trips to Syria and Turkiye, he added.

Turkiye is an important neighbor for Syria and has played a key role in the Astana process, the spokesman said, adding that it has also played a useful role in reducing tension in Syria.

Baghaei also made clear that the Tahrir al-Sham group in Syria is on the UN list of terrorist groups.

“The developments in Syria are very complex, and given the protracted nature of the Syrian crisis, it is natural that its actors are diverse,” he said.

“Over the past 14 months, the Zionist regime has increased its attacks on Syria in order to damage Syria’s capabilities and equipment. The genocide in Gaza and the aggression in Lebanon have paved the way for terrorist groups to prepare in different regions of Syria, and the history of the Tahrir al-Sham group shows that the Zionist regime has supported these terrorists to weaken Syria.”

The Foreign ministry spokesman also maintained that the concurrence of recent developments in Syria with the ceasefire in Lebanon and recent statements by American officials in this regard indicate the existence of a kind of coordination and cooperation between terrorists, the United States, and the Zionist regime.

Astana process

Turkey’s role regarding the developments related to Syria is important, the Spokesman said.

Any insecurity and the spread of terrorism in Syria is not limited to that country, Baghaei noted.

Iran, Turkiye, and Russia have made efforts within the framework of the Astana process for several years to improve the situation in Syria, he said.

Like Iran, Turkiye is concerned about the developments in Syria, he underscored, describing the developments in Syria as complex. He noted that the Zionist regime takes advantage of the insecurity in Syria.

All Islamic countries and regional nations must consider that the recent events have been committed by the Zionist regime which is considered the common enemy of security and stability, he added.

The Astana commitments may be violated like other international commitments, which does not mean they will be destroyed or weakened, he said.

We must use this diplomatic initiative to mend the violations, the official said.

The spokesman expressed hope that with the measures that are being taken, including FM Araghchi’s ongoing visit to Turkiye and phone calls with Russian officials, the countries will be able to use the Astana mechanism again.

Evacuation of Iranian consulate staff in Aleppo

Staff of the Iranian consulate in the Syrian city of Aleppo were evacuated on time, and “none of our colleagues were harmed”, Baghaei said, adding that any attack on diplomatic premises is prohibited based on international law.

Iran’s presence in Syria

The spokesman said that Iranian military advisors have been and are now in Syria at the official request of the government in Damascus to help the Syrian people in the face of attacks by terrorist groups.

Baghaei also said that Iran is now engaged in diplomatic efforts that are focusing on the developments in Syria, and intends to hold talks with regional leaders about threats from the resurgence of terrorism in Syria and its adverse effects on the region.

Geneva meeting

The recent meeting in Geneva between Iran and E3, which is made up of the UK, France and Germany, was not limited to nuclear discussions, Baghaei stated, adding “we raised our various concerns with the European side” as well, and that the aim of the meeting was clearly stated to be dialogue, not negotiation.

“We have diplomatic relations with all three European countries that were at the meeting, and dialogue with them is a natural thing. Given the developments in the region, we used this opportunity to express our views and concerns to the Europeans, and it is natural that we should also hear their opinions,” he said.

Iran peaceful nuclear program 

Regarding the nuclear issue, Iran has maintained that it is ready to interact in accordance with its commitments based on international law, the spokesman said.

Iran’s nuclear program will remain peaceful given the Supreme Leader’s religious order (fatwa) and national security-based assessments and considerations, Baghaei underlined.

Iran’s nuclear program is not based on a confrontational approach, he underscored, saying that the program is being pursued considering the various applications of nuclear energy.

Iran has always sought and will continue to prevent possible tension over its nuclear program, Baghaei stressed.

The history of the other parties shows that they always want to disrupt this process, he said, adding that the US is not in a position to express its opinion on the issue, because it was the party that created problems over the Iranian nuclear program.

Portugal summit 

He also explained that FM Araghchi’s participation in the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations summit in Portugal and numerous meetings with foreign ministers on the sidelines of this summit and discussions on important regional developments, especially focusing on stopping the genocide in Gaza and crimes in Lebanon, were among the developments in the past few days.

Baghaei also pointed out that the ECO summit in Mashhad will be held today (Monday) at the expert level and the main session will begin tomorrow.

Issus of Palestine

Iran has always stated that the only fair solution for the issue of Palestine is to hold an independent and free referendum in which all the Palestinian people, including Muslims, Christians and Jews can decide their fate, he said.

Referring to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the spokesman said, “With the coming of winter, the continuation of famine and the starvation of the people of Gaza is very painful and it is necessary to stop these crimes as soon as possible.”

Iran’s Constitution Day

The spokesman said that December 2 coincides with the anniversary of a 1979 referendum during which 99.5% of voters approved the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution.

ICC arrest warrants

He also said that after the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for the leaders of the Zionist regime, “we immediately announced that we welcome any process that will hold them accountable, and the call to end the impunity of the leaders of the Zionist regime is a public demand.”

Parliamentary cooperation

According to the spokesman, parliamentary diplomacy and utilizing the capacity of other countries’ parliaments to facilitate diplomacy between countries has been proven right.

“The parliament and representatives have long been very active participants in the meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and this capacity has been used to express Iran’s positions.”

Veterans of chemical attacks 

Further in his presser, Baghaei said that Iran has been working at the international level to raise awareness about the suffering of Iranian veterans of chemical attacks that took place during the eight-year war by the former Iraqi Baath regime against Iran in the 1980s.

Germany was one of the main suppliers of chemical weapons to Iraq’s Baath regime, Baghaei said, adding “We have taken serious and extensive measures in this regard.”

At least two times, one during a meeting of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and another, in a letter sent to Iran’s Foreign Ministry by Germany, they said that court hearings have been held in Germany over the dispatch of chemical weapons to Iraq, the Iranian diplomat said.

“We demand them inform us of the results of those hearings”, he added.

Chinese PM’s visit to Iran

Regarding the Chinese prime minister’s visit to Tehran next week, Baghaei said that the trip will take place within the framework of the two countries’ cooperation on implementing their strategic agreement.

On Iran’s expectation from China on fighting terrorism, the Iranian diplomat said that it is a common duty of all countries to fight terrorism. He said, any country concerned about terrorism will spare no effort to help Syria.

De-dollarization by BRICS

In reaction to US President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks on de-dollarization, Baghaei said that BRICS member states make decisions based on their own interests.

Iran mulls over changing special rep. to Afghanistan

Tehran is currently reviewing a decision to change the special representative of the President in Afghanistan, Baghaei said.

He added that changes in diplomatic missions are normal in any country, and that Iranian ambassadors and consul generals are replaced after the end of their mission.

Regional cooperation

Regional countries have convergence on common issues, he said, noting that countering terrorism requires collective action.

The recent talk between the Iranian President and the Iraqi premier was in this regard, the spokesman underlined.