Araghchi to Pedersen: Foreign forces must withdraw from Syrian territory

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, during his meeting with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, reiterated his country’s position in support of the UN efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria.

During the meeting with Pedersen on the sidelines of their participation in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Araqchi discussed developments in Syria and ways to reach a political solution, stressing the need for the withdrawal of foreign occupation forces from Syrian territory and the start of reconstruction process as soon as possible.

During the meeting, Araqchi talked about the repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, stressing that the crimes of the Zionist entity in Lebanon will not pass without a response and they are committed out of despair.

For his part, Pedersen reviewed developments in Syria and presented a report on the latest measures in this field.

In a statement following discussions he held with a number of officials participating in the UN General Assembly meetings, Araqchi noted that he met with the foreign ministers of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Cuba, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the UN Secretary-General’s Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza, and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, in addition to Pedersen.

He added that he  held very constructive and serious discussions with them on the stability and security of the region, which addressed the issue of Palestine and the crimes of the Zionist entity in Gaza and Lebanon, pointing to the importance of confronting the crimes of the Zionists that pose a threat to the entire region.

Araghchi stressed that the Israeli entity created a real hell in Gaza, indicating that all officials confirmed in these meetings that the Israeli entity did not achieve any of its declared goals, and that the main obstacle to reaching a ceasefire in Gaza is the support provided by America and Western countries to this entity.