Iran Envoy: Iran Backs Syrian Gov't, Opposition Dialog

Tehran, April 9, IRNA – Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hussein Amir Abdullahian said on Sunday that the Islamic Republic of Iran backs the Syrian people and its government in the the same way it supports Lebanese Hizbullah. Abdullahian made the remarks in a meeting with Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd Ben Mahmoud Al Saeed in Muscat on Sunday. According to the Information and Press Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdullahian is now in Oman to attend the first meeting of Iran-Oman joint strategic committee. Tehran and Muscat share close stands on regional and global developments and the issue of the Persian Gulf region is of prime importance for both sides, he said. Iran calls for maintenance of security in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, he underlined. On current developments in Syria, he said Iran backs reform policies of President Bashar Al-Assad and strongly opposes intervention of foreign forces in the country as it believes that certain foreign powers seek to trigger civil war in the country. Iran has always invited the Syrian government and its opposition parties to negotiation table, he said. Iran does not seek to trigger conflicts or cause insecurity in the region and always does its best to help restore security and stability to the region and pursues current developments in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain through such perspective, he said. The western countries are after geographical changes in the region, he said, adding that Iran under no circumstances let the interests of regional nations be endangered by alien forces. The Omani deputy premier, for his part, praised the current level of relations between the two countries and said bilateral relations is of historical importance. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a big and powerful country in the region which plays a leading role in regional and global developments, he said. The Omani Sultan has recommended Omani officials to spare no efforts to expand all out relations with Iran, he said./end