In Damascus to Renew Support for Assad
Iran’s Speaker of Majlis
Ali Larijani said today the Islamic Republic was mindful of regional players
working against Tehran in the global oil marketplace. In a not-so-veiled
reference to Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries, Larijani said those countries
are conspiring to keep oil prices low to punish Iran.
“We will not forget which
countries are conspiring to reduce oil prices,” Larijani said. “It would be a
mistake if they imagine they can change the strategic and important issues of
the region through oil.” (UPI, 22 December)
Larijani made the comments
in Damascus during a visit to the Syrian capital. Iran is trying to retool its
economy, stifled by sanctions, and now the low price of oil, off about 45
percent from its June value.
Larijani is in Damascus to
renew Iranian support for Assad regime. He met with the Syrian president on
Sunday, and said later that Assad will continue his determination to eradicate
“terrorism,” a term used to describe Assad’s opponents and the Syrian
opposition. Assad said on Sunday, however, that his government is ready to work
on “reconciliation” to end the brutal civil war, sate news agency SANA
reported.
Photo credit: Iran’s
Speaker of Majlis Ali Larijani (l.) meeting with Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad; Damascus, 21 December 2014 (Reuters)
Larijani is on a regional tour to the capitals of the Iran-led coalition partners against ISIL and Al-Qaida forces. In addition to Syria, Larijani's tour includes stops in Lebanon and Iraq, as well.
ReplyDeleteWhere Assad uses the term "terrorism," there exists overlap with our American rendering of ISIL and Al-Qaida linked forces as terrorist organizations.