Iran’s Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani says the Syrian government should be given the chance to resolve its internal issues and counter the terrorism that has been going on in the Arab state for over four years.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran continues its support for Syria and believes that, with a novel political strategy and initiative, Syrian leaders should be given the opportunity to solve their domestic problems and overcome the terrorists,” Larijani said in a Wednesday meeting with Syrian Ambassador to Tehran Adnan Mahmoud.
Larijani also hailed the Syrian people and government for their resistance against terrorist attacks in their homeland.
“The people of Syria, along with its leaders, have passed difficult times in recent years; and this resistance is admirable in the real sense of the word,” he said.
Mahmoud, the Syrian envoy, for his part, appreciated Iran’s support for Damascus in its fight against Takfiri terrorist groups.
“The international community’s main priority should be countering terrorism and fighting the terrorists who are committing crimes on Syrian soil,” the Syrian official said.
He said Iran’s role in finding a solution to the conflict in Syria is “vital and highly significant,” adding that it is a fact that Western countries and many other states acknowledge.
The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which erupted in March 2011, has reportedly claimed more than 240,000 lives so far. The violence has also forced over four million Syrians to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon. More than 7.2 million others have been internally displaced, according to the United Nations (UN).