Iran denies plans to send Revolutionary Guards to SyriaJune 18, 2013 - 15:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran has no plans to send troops to aid Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces in the ongoing civil war there, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, June 18, rejecting media reports claiming Tehran was set to intervene directly in the fighting, according to RIA Novosti. “We categorically refute this information,” Seyed Abbas Araqchi said, adding Tehran has never and would never send its troops to Damascus. Syria’s government forces have all the necessary means to fight against “terrorists acting in Syria,” and “Iran has no need to provide military aid to Syria’s authorities,” he said. The Independent, citing "pro-Iranian sources," reported on June 16 that Iran, Syria’s strategic ally, has decided to send 4,000 troops to Syria. Iran “has proposed opening up a new ‘Syrian’ front on the Golan Heights against Israel” to help prop up the Assad regime, the paper said. The decision to send Iranian Revolutionary Guards to Syria was taken before the June 14 presidential election which brought reformist-backed cleric Hassan Rouhani to power, the report said. Iran has traditionally been a strong supporter of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militia group which has previously fought with Israel and has a power base in southern Lebanon adjacent to the border area with Syria. Hezbollah has already intervened in the conflict to support Assad. The U.S. and Israel have accused Tehran of supplying the group with weapons, which it denies. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. Armenia calls for prohibiting threats of attacks on nuclear facilities Armenia has raised the need for a treaty prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes. Armenia says ready to extend nuclear plant’s lifetime by 10 years Armenia has taken necessary measures to extend the lifetime of its nuclear power plant until 2036. Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. |