Iran to Pull Advisers Out of Syria Only If Damascus Wants So, Zarif Says
BRUSSELS (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated that the country’s support for Syria is confined to advisory assistance, stressing that the Iranian military advisers will leave the Arab country only if the Damascus government requests it.
“Iran does not have military forces in Syria as alleged by some. We have military advisers there at the invitation of the country’s government. We will pull those military advisers out when the local government deems it necessary,” Zarif said at a joint press conference with Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok in Brussels on Tuesday.
The top Iranian diplomat also stressed that foreigners have no right to “dictate contents of the political talks” for peace in Syria, saying the Syrian people alone should decide their fate.
The outcome of talks among the Syrians should be determined in the negotiation room, not in Riyadh, Zarif stated.
Neither Iran will decide for Syria nor can Saudi Arabia do so, he added.
Referring to speculations about deployment of Saudi Arabian ground troops to Syria, Zarif said when it comes to military forces, first of all, the bombardment of Yemen should end.
Civilians are being killed every day in Yemen in the military attacks by the Saudi-led military coalition, he deplored.
Zarif arrived in Brussels on Sunday night. He has held talks with several Belgian and EU officials on the regional and internationals issues, including the crises in Syria and Yemen.
