Iran Defends Its Involvement In Syria. Asks U.S. Forces To Leave

Photo: sobhezagros.ir

Reuters: Iran defends its military presence in Syria, asks U.S. forces to leave

LONDON (Reuters) - A senior Iranian official said on Wednesday that Iran’s military presence in Syria was legitimate and based on the invitation of Damascus, and called on the U.S. forces to leave the country.

Reacting to U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson who said on Wednesday that Iran needed to withdraw military from Syria, Ali Akbar Velayati, a top aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said: “Iran’s military presence in Syria was based on invitation of the Syrian government.”

“Those should leave Syria who are there without the permission of the Syrian legal government,” Velayati was quoted as saying by ISNA, answering a question about Tillerson’s comments.

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Update #1: Iran calls on US to withdraw from Syria (The Hill)
Update #2: Syria of Discord: Iran, US Clash Over Military Presence on Ground (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: Some are hoping that Syria will become Iran's "Vietnam" .... Pushing Back Against Iran in Syria, Tehran’s Vietnam (Kenneth Pollack, Newsweek). What's my take .... the long term problem is not the war .... which will probably go on (albeit at a low intensity) .... the problem is who is going to pay for the reconstruction of Syria. From what I understand .... Russia has made it very clear that they are not going to provide funds, and the rest of the Arab World have their own priorities. Does Iran have the resources to provide billions to Syria .... I doubt it.