Iran's Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani says weakening the Syrian government and its leadership is harmful to regional peace and security.

“Undermining the Syrian central government and leadership poses a threat to the country’s territorial integrity and [will lead to the] domination of extremist terrorist groups,” Larijani said in a Sunday meeting with visiting Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad.

He added that attempts to weaken the Syrian government would create various political and security challenges for the region particularly Syria’s neighboring states.

Larijani also stressed Iran’s support for the the Syrian nation and government in the face of an all-out foreign offensive.

He criticized certain Western and Arab states for supporting extremist and terrorist groups in Syria, saying their support has inflicted spiritual and material damages on Syrians.

“The resistance of the Syrian nation and its leadership has led to the failure of foreign plots against the country,” he added.


Earlier on Sunday, Assad voiced his readiness for dialogue with opposition and political parties in Syria. The Syrian leader also proposed general elections, the adoption of a new Constitution as well as national reconciliation.

Syria has been scene of unrest since March 2011 and many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the turmoil.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the insurgents are foreign nationals.

Syria blames Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey as well as some Western countries for fanning the flames of violence in the country.
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News ID 183884