Senior Iranian diplomat warns of Syria’s disintegration, spread of insecurity to Iraq
A high-ranking Iranian diplomat says destruction of Syria and rendering it weak in the face of the Israeli regime’s aggression have always formed part of the United States and the regime’s agenda, warning that the Arab country could fall apart amid the conflicting foreign interests that have come to affect it.
Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Islamic Republic’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, made the remarks in Tehran on Wednesday, in a meeting with Mohamed al-Hassan, the United Nations special representative for Iraq and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
“The macro plan consisting of decreasing the regional countries’ capability in the face of the Zionist regime’s violations, including destruction of Syria as a country that supports the resistance, has always been on the US and the regime’s agenda,” the former foreign minister said.
Kharrazi cited remarks made by former US president Barack Obama during his tenure, in which he said, “Assad must go” as an example of Washington’s destructive ambitions towards Syria.
The veteran diplomat pointed to the Israeli regime’s having markedly intensified its deadly attacks against Syria, especially targeting its military infrastructure, in the aftermath of the country’s takeover by the anti-Damascus militants, who are widely reported to have been receiving extensive military support and cooperation on the part of Tel Aviv and the West since the outbreak of foreign-backed militancy in the country in 2011.
The head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group says he will not allow Syria’s soil to be used for anti-Israeli attacks.
Kharrazi expressed concern regarding the developments, especially the Israeli regime’s efforts at availing itself of the power vacuum in the Arab country as well as Tel Aviv’s violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity through extensive bombing of its military and civilian infrastructure.
The official warned about Syria’s disintegration on the back of the opposing interests of the foreign parties that have thrown their support behind the militants.
He also said insecurity in the Arab country could, meanwhile, spread to neighboring Iraq, and urged the UN secretary general and the world body’s Security Council to take immediate action to stem such repercussions.
Concluding his remarks, Kharrazi laid emphasis on the Islamic Republic’s preparedness to help the UN implement its duties in this regard.
The UN official, for his part, provided Kharrazi with a report on UNAMI’s activities, and expressed hope that the mission would be able to implement its obligations successfully, despite the existing concerns.
