“What has escalated the humanitarian crisis in Syria is the overt support of certain countries for sending weapons to Syria and providing terrorists and al-Qaeda with arms,” said Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran on Wednesday.

He made the remark in a meeting with Valerie Amos, the UN under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and the international body’s Emergency Relief coordinator.

“One of the most important factors for any plan aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis to be successful is to control the country’s borders and stop sending arms to terrorists,” Amir-Abdollahian added.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011.

A very large number of the militants operating inside Syria are reportedly foreign nationals. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies, especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

Referring to Iran’s humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran could serve as a link between the UN and Syria to transfer relief aid to the country and make sure the aid shipments reach the people who are really in need.

Amos, for her part, said sending humanitarian aid to Syria has been difficult due to the ongoing crisis and violent clashes.

The visiting UN official added that military action cannot settle the Syrian crisis, and added that efforts should be put into finding a diplomatic and political solution.

On September 5, Amos praised Iran for sending humanitarian aid to Syria, calling on Tehran to help facilitate the delivery of the world body’s humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people.

Iran has dispatched consignments of humanitarian supplies, including medicines and medical equipment, to the conflict-stricken people in the Arab country.

HH/HH