US Attack on Syria Support for Defeated Terrorists: Iran's President
Alwaght- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has denounced recent airstrikes by the US, Britain and France against Syria, saying such attacks run counter to the principles of international law and are considered a blatant support for terrorism.
"At a time that terrorists are suffering a defeat in Syria on a daily basis, such aggressive act certainly means support for these defeated groups," Rouhani said in a telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday.
The Iranian president further emphasized that the airstrikes were not "a blatant act of aggression against the Syrian soil" only but a military offensive against the stability of the entire region.
He added that the three countries' act of aggression against the Syrian government and nation was a practical move to strengthen terrorism in the region and emphasized that undermining a country's national sovereignty was tantamount to creating regional instability.
Rouhani vowed that the Islamic Republic would continue to stand by the Syrian government and nation and urged respect for the Arab country's territorial integrity.
"Iran will continue its activity in all international circles, particularly in cooperation with Russia and Turkey, to help achieve peace and stability in the region and in Syria," the Iranian chief executive pointed out.
He once again expressed Iran's opposition to any move aimed at changing Syria's geographical borders, saying, "As we have repeatedly emphasized, the presence of any foreign forces in Syria without its government's permission is against international regulations and is a violation of Syria’s territory."
Rouhani said no foreign power can make decisions about the future of Syria, adding, "The country's people are the main decision-makers and the Islamic Republic of Iran will stand by the Syrian government and nation."
Assad, for his part, said the missile attacks would have no impact on the Syrian government and people, adding that they would continue to counter terrorists.
The Syrian president added that London, Paris and Washington carried out the airstrikes after they failed to achieve their goals through political means and emphasized that the strikes brought them no military achievements.
“The aggression came as a result of the knowledge of the colonial western powers, which support terrorism, that they have lost control and credibility in front of their people and the world,” President al-Assad said, adding that the aggression came after the failure of the terrorists in achieving the goals of those countries which were involved in the war on Syria.
President al-Assad reiterated that this aggression will lead to nothing rather it will further increase the Syrian people’s determination to continue fighting and crushing terrorism in each inch of the Syrian territories.
The Russian military said Saturday that the US, Britain and France fired 103 cruise missiles, including Tomahawk, at Syria but that Syrian air defense systems managed to intercept 71 of them.
