MOSCOW, September 2. /TASS/. The US strike on Syria’s Idlib contributes to the unstable situation in the republic, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday during the joint press conference on the outcomes of talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
"Iran, Russia and Turkey have ensured relative security and peace in Syria, while to the east of the Euphrates in Syria, the US creates a new unstable situation by their actions, namely yesterday in Idlib," Zarif noted.
The Iranian top diplomat added that "US weapons are in the hands of the IS [Islamic State terrorist group, outlawed in Russia — TASS] militants."
On August 31, the US launched a strike in Syria’s Idlib province. According to the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria, the strike has led to multiple victims and caused significant damage.
Stance on US presence in northeast Syria
The US military presence in the security zone in Syria’s northeast will lead to an escalation of tensions in the area, Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on Monday.
"The US presence to the east of the Euphrates will lead to a rise in disputes between various tribes, causing long-term tribal disputes in Syria. This is why we consider the US presence in Syria illegitimate, destructive and in violation of Syria’s territorial integrity," he said, commenting on the talks between Turkey and the US on the establishment of a safety zone in northeast Syria.
Zarif noted that Tehran condemns all attempts to legalize US presence in Syria. "We understand the concern of our Turkish friends regarding the protection of their borders and people, however, we think that the best way to eliminate this concern is to cooperate with the Syrian central government and work within the framework of international law and respect for Syria’s territorial integrity and independence."
Turkey needs the buffer zone in Syria to ensure the return of Syrian refugees and to protect the Turkish border. Ankara considers the Kurdish Self-Defense Forces and other formations in the area terrorist groups that present a threat to national security. In July, the republic’s leadership began to announce its plans to hold a new military operation to the east of Euphrates in Syria. This region is currently under control of Kurdish formations.
On August 7, the US and Turkish military agreed to establish a joint operation center. On August 12, the first US military unit arrived in the area to work in the center. The joint operation center was set up to create a buffer zone in northern Syria which would allow Syrian refugees to return home from Turkey and serve as a protection belt around the Turkish border.
Stance on Western security policy in the region
Western countries need to realize that selfishly pursuing profit won’t lead to the creation of a safe environment in the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters.
"Our standpoint on the future of the region’s security fundamentally contrasts that of the Americans. The Americans view security through confrontation, while we see security through cooperation," Zarif differentiated.
According to the top Iranian diplomat, the Americans’ aim is to make as much money in the region as possible. "However, we need to realize that security is not selling or purchasing something," he stressed.
Zarif added that, if Saudi Arabia was ready to cooperate with Iran, Tehran would likewise be ready to "shake hands with its neighbors" and support any positive initiative aimed at expanding cooperation.