Iran supports democratic movements in Syria, but “reforms cannot be implemented through weapons or explosions

Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani told reporters after meeting with his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Jihad al-Laham in Tehran that Iran supports democratic movements in Syria, but reiterated that “reforms cannot be implemented through weapons or explosions."

Larijani said that certain regional and trans-regional forces are engaged in a plot to weaken Syria as the forefront of resistance against the Zionist entity. “There is currently a political uproar in the international arena” regarding Syria, Larijani told reporters on Tuesday.

“The issue has two aspects, part of which is related to the democratic reforms in Syria and the other one is about a conspiracy organized in the region and world against Syria to weaken this resistance force against the Zionist regime (Israel),” he added.

Iran’s top lawmaker accused certain countries in the region who themselves had despotic governments as being engaged in a plot to undermine Syria’s resistance against the Israeli occupier by military interference.

The Syrian official, for his part, thanked Iran for its ‘fair’ stance on Syria and said the US along with certain Western mercenaries seek to impose their objectives on Syria under the pretext of supporting democracy.

Laham criticized certain regional countries for claiming to advocate freedom and democracy in Syria, while lacking a democratic government themselves.