February 10, 2012 - 14:28 AMT
Iranian diplomat welcomes peace efforts in Syria

A top Iranian diplomat hails as “useful” a possible joint UN-Arab League (AL) observer mission in Syria, saying Iran welcomes any effort aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Arab country.

Iran welcomes any move to prevent damage to the Syrian people and promote reform by the government of President Bashar al-Assad, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told IRNA on Friday, Feb 10.

He added that only domestic resolutions would settle problems in Syria and noted that Syrian officials have agreed with the Arab League’s move to send its observers to the country.

If different regional and international sides pursue the same path, it will greatly help in resolving the Syrian issue, the diplomat emphasized.

The Iranian official stated that the move by certain regional states to recall their ambassadors from Damascus and close embassies “has escalated the situation in the crisis-hit country.” “We believe that such hasty measures would not settle problems but only cause more complications,” he said.

Amir-Abdollahian urged Arab countries in the region to prevent the repeat of such mistakes in the future, Press TV reported.