Zarif: Iran will stay in Syria as long as Damascus asks us to

SANAA, Oct. 30 (YPA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed his country’s continued presence in Syria at the request of the Syrian Arab Republic, saying Tehran would “continue to be there as long as asked to do so.”

The move came during a joint press conference with his counterparts, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Geneva on Tuesday evening.

“Iran and Russia are there on the invitation of the Syrian government, and we intend to stay there as long as the Syrian government and Syrian people want us to be there,” he said.

He stressed that Syrian territory must be under the control of the Syrian government and the Syrian army, and there should be no threat to Syria’s neighbors.

Asked about the presence of US forces in Syria under the pretext of preserving oil fields, he said: “Well it seems that the United States is staying to protect the oil. And at least President Trump is honest to say what the United States intends to do.”

Zarif stressed that the Syrian Constitutional Committee held in Geneva is the beginning of the process of challenge, adding that this committee should be for Syrians and should be directed only by them.

He added that the adoption of a new constitution must be done by the whole people.

The Iranian Foreign Minister stressed the need not to interfere or exert external pressure on the Constitutional Committee.

E.M