TEHRAN
Iran, staunch supporter of the Syrian regime, increased its voice against a possible military strike that is to target Damascus.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said international law should be taken into consideration to deal with regional issues, adding that any military intervention in violation of international regulations would destabilize the region. Rouhani made the remarks during a meeting with Masahiko Komura, the special envoy of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Tehran on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also cautioned against possible military strike to Syria and called for negotiation on the 30 month old crisis.
The US and its allies including France and Turkey directly accused the Syrian regime for the more than 1,000 deaths resulted in the August 21 chemical attack on a Damascus suburb. Washington has sent its war ships to the Mediterranean Sea for a punitive airstrike against the Syrian regime, asking for authorization from both houses of US Congress. While France sent one ship, Turkey expressed its willingness to participate in any coalition to be formed against Damascus.
Iranian president praised the step taken by Japanese government to improve the bilateral relations. He underlined that Iran is committed to all international agreements regarding the nuclear activities, adding that the UN's nuclear watchdog is monitoring Tehran's steps. "Tehran and Tokyo, as the countries which had been the victims of weapons of mass destruction in the past, could be standard-bearers of the international campaign against these weapons," he told. Japanese special envoy who conveyed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's congratulation message and Tokyo's wish to improve relations further between the two countries.
Japan, a country dependent on imported enegy reduced its oil import from Iran due to Tehran's controversial nuclear program. US and EU accuse Iran of hiding the true intention of the program and claim the aim of the program is to have atomic bomb. Tehran denied all these accusations and insisted that its program is peaceful so far.
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