Wed Aug 28, 2013 14:00:04
The Leader of Islamic Revolution has warned that any military intervention by the US and its allies in Syria will spell "disaster" for the region.
"The US intervention will be a disaster for the region," Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei told a meeting with the cabinet of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Wednesday.
"The region is like a gunpowder depot. (Its) future cannot be predicted" in case of a military strike against Syria, the Leader added.
He stressed that foreign intervention in Syria is nothing but warmongering.
The Leader’s comments came as the US has been mulling carrying out an airstrike on Syria by moving its naval forces closer to the Arab country.
The call for military action against Syria intensified after foreign-backed opposition forces accused the government of President Bashar al-Assad of launching a chemical attack on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus last week.
The Syrian Army strongly rejected any role in the alleged chemical attack, saying the accusations were fabricated to distract a visiting team of the UN chemical weapons experts and to cover up militants' losses.
During a news conference on Tuesday in Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem challenged the US and its allies to present evidence that the government had used chemical weapons.
"We are hearing war drums around us. If they want to launch an attack against Syria, I think using the excuse of chemical weapons is not true at all. I challenge them to show what proof they have,” Muallem said.
He also criticized Jordanian government which has provided a main base for US military and CIA activities along their borders against Syria and said,” we have never done any wrong toward Jordan. It is said that they are preparing to take part in chemical war (against Syria). We call on our Jordanian brothers to respect right of neighborhood.”
BA/BA
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