Iran defends Syria’s al-Assad in Hariri murder probe

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Jan. 21 – Iran defended Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Friday in the United Nations probe into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minster Rafiq Hariri.
Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Jan. 21 – Iran defended Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Friday in the United Nations probe into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minster Rafiq Hariri.

A UN-appointed committee investigation into Hariri’s assassination in 2005 found that senior Syrian leaders were directly involved.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a joint statement with al-Assad at the end of his two-day visit to Damascus, defending the Syrian leader and urging the committee to exercise the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality.

Ahmadinejad and al-Assad condemned “attempts of certain countries to interfere in the probe of Hariri’s assassination as an excuse to put further political pressure on Damascus”.

They criticised “premature accusations” directed at Syria’s officialdom as having masterminded Hariri’s assassination before the conclusion of the investigation as “provocative, unjustifiable, and only serving the interests of the enemies of Syria and Lebanon”.

Striking a threatening tone, the two presidents warned of “consequences to regional security and peace” if the investigation did not meet the standards of impartiality and fairness.

The joint statement said that the Islamic Republic had a “right” to obtain nuclear capabilities.

Regional allies Iran and Syria are both accused by the United States of being state sponsors of terrorism.