Claims about Syria’s Use of Chemical Weapons Fabricated, Iran's Jaberi Ansari Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian foreign minister’s special assistant for political affairs, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, said in Iran’s view, employing chemical weapons by any party is totally unacceptable and rejected recent Western accusations about the Syrian government’s use of such weapons as fabricated.
Speaking to reporters after an unannounced meeting with Russia's special envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev in Tehran on Tuesday afternoon, Jaberi Ansari said, “We will not accept the instrumental use of the issue of chemical weapons.”
“If there is a claim about the use of chemical weapons, we call for legal action on the issue,” he stressed.
The official said that Syria is undergoing new developments and the US and some other countries are threating to take action against the Syrian government under the pretext of chemical weapons use.
Jaberi Ansari further emphasized that the clear and transparent stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the main victim of chemical weapons, is that using such weapons by any country or party is totally unacceptable.
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi also said claims that the Syrian government used chemical weapons in Douma in Eastern Ghouta are "conspiratorial" and "illogical".
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, as one of the victims of chemical weapons, strongly condemns the use of such weapons by any party and anywhere in the world based on its principled policies and religious and moral teachings,” Qassemi said in a statement.
Referring to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian army in Douma, Qassemi stated that such claims do not fit the facts on the ground.
The Syrian government has had a good cooperation with the United Nations on chemical matters, Qassemi said, adding that the international community, after Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention, destroyed all the chemical weapons production and manufacturing facilities of the Arab country.
“The Syrian army’s use of chemicals does not seem logical since it has the upper-hand in its war against armed terrorists,” stressed Qassemi.
“Such allegations by the US and some other Western countries reveal a new conspiracy against the Syrian government and people. This is an excuse for military action against Syrians and will definitely add to the complexity of the situation in this country and region.”
“Such claims would also make the terrorist more resolute in committing crimes, which will not contribute to peace, stability and security in the region and in the world,” he added.
