An Iranian official has asserted that Tehran fully supports the Syrian government amid widespread anti-regime protests, denying a recent claim by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu that Iran's support for President Bashar al-Assad's regime has been fading.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reiterated the Islamic Republic's full backing for the Syrian government and nation, Iran's Press TV reported on Monday. He also dismissed a recent Turkish report quoting Davutoğlu as saying Iran and Russia's support for Syria had waned.
Davutoğlu was quoted as saying on Saturday to Turkish daily Radikal that Iran and Russia have been revising their expectations as to Assad's fate. “They had both expected that Assad would have a hard time, but eventually be able to reinstate his control. Now, they do not stand by Assad as determinedly as they were last August. They are asking about alternatives. Both countries have begun to feel concerned about a post-Assad era,” Davutoğlu said.
Amir-Abdollahian, on the other hand, said his country fully supports the Syrian regime, asserting that reforms initiated by Assad will move ahead and that the people of Syria would take a stand against “foreign intervention.”
Iran, like the Syrian regime, accuses foreign countries of inciting chaos by provoking and assisting anti-regime protests. Amir-Abdollahian said Iran holds those countries that incite instability and insecurity in Syria responsible for provoking the crisis in the country.
More than 7,000 people have been killed in Syria since protests against the Syrian government.