Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast rejected on Thursday demands for the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand down

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast rejected on Thursday demands for the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand down.

In a press briefing in the northeastern city of Mashhad attended by US scholars, Mehmanparast said: “Iran rejects [remarks by] those who set conditions for the resolution of the Syria crisis and say that Bashar al-Assad must leave his post and that he cannot participate in any next election, because this is interference in Syria’s affairs.”

Iran seeks the restoration of stability and security to Syria as well as the holding of public elections without foreign interference, he said, adding the Islamic Republic does not back any particular person or group.

“Iran believes that the Syrian people themselves should elect their government and president,” he said, stressing people’s choice must be respected.

Mehmanparast said that Iran clarified its policy towards Syria in the form of a six-point peace plan, which calls for an immediate end to all violent and armed acts and urges national dialogue with the participation of all Syrian groups.

Concerning Iranian talks with the US, IRNA said that negotiation with US within framework of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei would not happen as long as Americans have not changed their attitude and have not apologized to the Iranian nation due to 60 years of its hostile and oppressive measures.
 
“Negotiations with various countries are the priority of the foreign policy of any state. Negotiation with the US is not on the agenda of any Iranian officials, meanwhile, Iran would negotiate with any country except the Zionist regime,” Mehmanparast said.