Iran FM: israel complicit with Takfiris, extremist terrorists

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has denounced the latest Israeli airstrikes on Syria, saying the move shows that Tel Aviv is complicit with Takfiri groups and extremist terrorists.

“This move is [aimed at] boosting the morale of terrorist groups which are suffering very serious blows from the resistance of the Syrian and Iraqi people,” Zarif said at a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in Tehran on Monday.

He called for an “all-out and global” fight against terrorism and extremism, adding the battle should cover military, cultural, political and economic aspects and cut off financial aid to Takfiri groups.

He said the Middle East is currently faced with a “big regional and global crisis” that the oppressed Syrian and Iraqi people have borne the brunt of.

Zarif noted that Iran has had an accurate understanding of the danger of terrorism and extremism in Iraq, Syria and the entire Middle East since its outbreak.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has stood by the Iraqi and Syrian nations since the very first day to counter this danger and will proceed with its support for the Syrian and Iraqi people,” the Iranian minister pointed out.

He added that resistance of the Syrian people in order to defend their country and national dignity is very important, stressing that Iran calls for putting an end to the bloodshed in Syria and finding a political solution to the ongoing crisis in the war-torn country.

The Syrian minister, for his part, said regional countries that are supporting terrorists are standing in one front with the Israeli regime.

Muallem added that Damascus would continue its resistance against terrorists and said Syria would cooperate with Iran and Russia and other friend countries to find a political solution to the conflict in the war-stricken country based on dialog without interference of foreign powers.

Israeli warplanes carried out two air assaults against an area of the Damascus International Airport and another airport in the town of Dimas on Sunday.

The Syrian army issued a statement later in the day, saying the air attacks by Tel Aviv were aimed at helping the ISIL militants operating in the Arab country.

Israel has carried out several airstrikes in Syria since the start of the conflict in the country in 2011.