FM: Tehran Condemns Use Of Chemical Weapons

Tehran, Aug 28, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that Tehran considers use of chemical weapons by anybody unacceptable and condemns it. Speaking in an exclusive interview with IRNA, Zarif said, I think it is unlikely for the US administration not to be prudent enough and go to a new war in the region. Zarif commented on the visit of Jeffrey D. Feltman, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to Tehran and said, The US diplomat had last year visited Tehran along with the UN Chief Ban Ki Moon to attend the NAM Summit and was also present in a meeting with the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. Elsewhere in the interview, he said no evidence and proof is at hand to substantiate the Syrian governments use of chemical weapons. He said, I believe Iran is a powerful player globally and such a power should not necessarily a military one; though we are powerful in the military field as well. What turns us into a powerful and influential element at the global level is our potential stemming from our independence and Islamic Revolution which provides us with facilities and tools. Those whose interests are at stake by the presence of the Islamic Republic, want to involve us in certain issues and reverse conditions in a way to make us play in their courtyard. We do not need to do such a thing. We should ourselves decide about our ties with other countries because we are dependent. Sometimes, however, the decisions are in reaction to others conduct. He also referred to the Iran-US ties, saying, We should not allow pressure groups in the US to impose their will on Iran and the US because the US administration has unfortunately been following certain policies that are not its own or peoples interests. On terrorism, he said Iran is a country considering terrorism a global danger and views campaign against it as a Jihad./end