In an address to the 193-member United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Iran’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN Eshaq Al-e-Habib expressed the country’s support for the new UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi.
“We are pleased to see him take up the new position. Considering his high reputation and broad experience in addressing some issues of sensitive nature before, we are confident that he would also rigorously pursue the goal of finding a comprehensive peaceful political settlement to the Syrian crisis,” Al-e-Habib said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to work with him closely... to contribute to the resolution of the ongoing crisis. We support any constructive, unbiased, impartial, and peaceful Syrian-led political process and we stand ready to play our constructive role in that process,” the Iranian deputy ambassador added.
He went on to say that “the broader political reconciliation as well as the national unity, integrity, and stability of Syria will be maintained” only through a Syrian-led peaceful resolution to the unrest in the country.
Al-e-Habib censured the countries which he said are maliciously seeking to topple the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by financing and arming insurgents in the country.
Lakhdar Brahimi also briefly addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
"The death toll is staggering, the destruction is reaching catastrophic proportions and the suffering is immense," Brahimi said.
He added, "I am looking forward to my visit to Damascus in a few days time, and… to all the countries that are in a position to help the Syrian-led political process become a reality."
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that the countries supplying arms to Syria are only increasing the misery in the country.
“This conflict has taken a particularly brutal turn. The continuing militarization of the conflict is deeply tragic and highly dangerous,” Ban told the assembly on the same day.
He said there had to be a greater international effort to end the conflict in Syria and the humanitarian and refugee crisis in and around the country.
Earlier on Tuesday, Syria's ambassador to the UN said that Damascus is “open-minded and fully committed to the mission of Mr. Brahimi in his endeavors to put an end to violence and find a Syrian-led political solution to the crisis."
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Damascus says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving factor behind the unrest and deadly violence while the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings.
The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the armed militants are foreign nationals.
Damascus also says the insurgents are supported by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Assad said on August 1 that the country is engaged in a “crucial and heroic” battle that will determine the destiny of the nation.
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