Regional countries and world powers must fight Syria terror in practice not on paper: Ali Larijani

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani (6th R) and his Syrian counterpart Hadiya Khalaf Abbas (5th L) preside over a meeting in Tehran on September 26, 2016. (Photo by IRNA)

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has held some regional countries and world powers liable for the ongoing crisis in Syria, saying terrorism must be fought in practice and on the ground and not on paper.

“The fight against terrorism will not be possible through statements and genuine measures must be carried out in practice,” Larijani said in a meeting with Syrian Parliament Speaker Hadiya Khalaf Abbas in Tehran on Monday.

Pointing to Riyadh's support for militants wreaking havoc in Syria, he added, “Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia has created many problems in the region and is not behaving correctly.”

He said the Islamic Republic has always contended that the crisis in Syria can be solved through political approaches and Syrian-Syrian negotiations.

Larijani stressed the importance of reinforcing unity among Muslim nations to solve problems in the Muslim world and said, “Only major and colonial powers benefit from the existing divisions among Muslim states to serve their own interests.”

The top Iranian parliamentarian emphasized that Syria is on the frontline of the campaign against terrorism and Zionism and hailed the “very judicious” bids by the Syrian government and President Bashar al-Assad in particular in finding diplomatic solutions to the crisis in the country.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy is [based on] fighting terrorism and restoring security in the region,” Larijani pointed out.

Pointing to “cordial and historical” relations between Tehran and Damascus, the Iranian parliament speaker said, “Iran and Syria, as two important and major countries in the region and the Muslim world which enjoy rich civilizations and history, have profound and strategic ties.”

US double-standard policies in Syria

The Syrian parliament speaker, for her part, said the Israeli regime is supporting the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militant group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, in the southwestern city of Quneitra.

She added that the US recent airstrikes against the Syrian army indicated Washington’s support for terrorism and said the United States is pursuing double-standard policies in Syria.

Khalaf Abbas praised Iran’s full support for her country and expressed hope the Syrian people would achieve a final victory over terrorists soon.

The Syrian parliament speaker arrived in Tehran on Monday at the invitation of her Iranian counterpart, Ali Larijani, to hold talks with senior Iranian officials. Earlier in the day, she attended a joint press conference with Larijani and held talks with Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Back in 2014, the UN said it would no more update its death toll for Syria because it could not verify the figures that it received from various sources.

A week-long truce, brokered by Russia and the US, came to an end across Syria on September 19.

Damascus refused to extend the deal after its military base was hit by US-led airstrikes near the eastern city of Dayr al-Zawr in violation of the agreement.

In recent months, the Takfiri militants have suffered major setbacks as the Syrian army has managed to liberate several areas.