The Iranian Defence Minister says Syria, as the “frontline of resistance against Israel, should not be weakened.”
The Fars news agency reported that Commander Ahmad Vahidi told a press conference on Saturday January 26: “Iran’s reasoning on this issue is clear: a country and army that is on the frontline of resistance against Israel should not be weakened.”
He added that the “the solution for resolving Syria’s issues is turning to national and internal talks, and any form of interference by foreign forces in Syria is not beneficial.”
Iran has remained a close ally of Syrian ruler Beshar Assad and maintained its support of his regime throughout nearly two years of conflict.
Last week, Ali Akbar Velayati, the international affairs aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said; “An attack on Syria is an attack on Iran.”
The latest UN reports indicate that more than 60,000 people have died so far in the Syrian conflict.
The Beshar Assad regime claims that unrest is being fomented by terrorist groups supported by foreign countries.
The Syrian opposition forces gathered in Qatar to establish a coalition in November 2012. The group of opposition forces referred to as the Syrian National Coalition, which is made up of more than 60 members, failed this week to form a transitional government.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Friday that Western diplomats have expressed "concern that the growing strength of jihadist rebels in Syria is mounting, hindering aid to the moderate Syrian National Coalition opposition and possibly pushing it into the arms of religiously conservative backers.”
