Iran reiterates importance of political solution of Syrian crisis

Iranian first Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri reiterated support to Syria in the face of "terrorists and external pressure." Jahangiri, during a meeting with visiting Syrian Prime Minister Wael Halqi Saturday, said Iran believed the political solution was the best way to end the conflict in Syria. "Only the Syrian people have the right to determine their fate, and no-one should tell them who should protect them or who should run for (presidential) elections," he was quoted by official media as saying. Jahangiri regretted the tragic conditions of the Syrian refugees in neighboring countries, saying "Iran will continue providing humanitarian assistance for the refugees, and expect the international community to take steps to honor their humanitarian needs." Halqi, for his part, congratulated Iran for sealing a nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group in Geneva recently. "The agreement created a distinguished role for the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region, because Tehran has shown that peaceful negotiations are guarantee for security and stability in the region," he said. Halqi said the nuclear agreement would trigger peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria, which killed more than 100,000 people and displaced millions others. Halqi is on a three-day visit to Iran for talks with senior officials including President Hassan Rohani and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.