Iran hopes new US approach toward Syria 'serious'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed hope on Wednesday that the United States is "serious" in its new approach toward Syria, semi-official ISNA news agency reported. Khamenei's remarks came after Washington expressed optimism about finding a diplomatic solution to the alleged chemical weapons use by the Syrian government. "We hope that the new U.S. approach toward Syria is serious, not a media game," said Khamenei, pointing out that for weeks, the United States and its allies were threatening to attack the region to protect the interests of Israel. The new approach, if serious, means that the United States have retreated from its "wrong policies," Khamenei said, stressing "the Islamic republic is cognizant about the regional developments." On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama asked the congress to postpone a vote on a military attack against Damascus After Russia proposed to put Syria's chemical weapons under international control.