Iranian, Austrian, Portuguese FMs discuss Syria on phone

Tehran, Aug 30, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in separate telephone calls with his Austrian and Portuguese counterparts lashed at warmongering policies of certain countries vis-à-vis Syria, and called for a political solution to the Syrian crisis. During the phone conversation on Friday, Zarif and his counterpart underlined the need for a political solution to the ongoing bloodshed and violence in Syria. The Iranian foreign minister strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian civilians, and urged the UN inspectors to avoid politicization of the issue and be fair in their judgments. Earlier today in a telephone conversation with UN-Arab League Special Envoy on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, Zarif voiced concern over emergence of new round of adventurism in the region, specially Syria, as some Western countries push towards attacking the Muslim country on the pretext of fatal chemical attack in Damascus. The Iranian foreign minister condemned the use of chemical weapons, and underlined that it does not matter who has used chemical weapons against the civilians in Damascus. Zarif on Friday warned against the grave consequences of invasion against Syria. On Wednesday afternoon, the top Iranian diplomat discussed Syria with the foreign ministers of France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Algeria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Jordan, and Kuwait. The Iranian minister also called on UN inspectors to continue their investigation into the gas attack near the Syrian capital, which killed hundreds. Over the past days, the war rhetoric against Syria has intensified after the militants and the foreign-backed opposition accused the Syrian government of having launched a chemical attack on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21. Syria has, however, denied any involvement in the attack. Iran, Russia and China, among other countries, have warned against foreign military intervention in Syria, which has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. In addition, people around the world have staged demonstrations against the US threats of war against Syria. Anti-war protests were also held in several cities across the US on the same day, including Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago. In New York City, supporters of the Syrian government gathered at Times Square chanting slogans against the US warmongering policies.