Iran Official Stresses Need To Halt Violence In Syria

Ankara, Dec 24, IRNA – Spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry Ramin Mehmanparast here on Saturday evening stressed the need to end violence in Syria. Speaking to reporters in the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum, Mehmanparast said the Syrian transitional government should be formed and elections date should be fixed after the ongoing violence is halted. Mehmanparast further underlined the need for holding international negotiations through which different Syrian groups would exchange their viewpoints. The Iranian diplomat advised the world media to broadcast the existing realities in Syria. In order to continue conflicts in Syria, the western states support opposition groups in that country and dispatch weapons to them, said Mehmanparast, adding that Washington has been supporting the regional dictators in the past 40 years. He called on regional countries to deepen all-out cooperation to bring peace and security to the entire region. Insecurity and lack of confidence among the regional states will solely benefit the Zionist regime, he noted. Terming the current regional situation as critical, the diplomat called on the Iranian and Turkish officials to hold talks on finding proper solution to the regional crises. He then pointed to the leading role the media plays in preventing misunderstanding between the two countries. The West is trying to sow discord among powerful regional countries in order to safeguard the interests of the Zionist regime, said Mehmanparast, adding the regional nations should avoid fanning the flames of violence./end