‘Iran ready to cooperate with Red Cross in helping Syrian people’

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has told International Committee of the Red Cross President Peter Maurer that Iran is ready to cooperate with the Red Cross to allay the suffering of the Syrian people.

Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with Maurer in Tehran on Tuesday.

The Iranian foreign minister also stated that the warring sides in Syria should not be allowed to use humanitarian issues as a pretext for achieving their political goals.

And he emphasized the need to expand cooperation between Iran and the Red Cross.

During the meeting, the two officials exchanged views on the influence of Islamic teachings on the observation of human rights.
The Syria crisis, which began in 2011, pits President Bashar al-Assad’s forces against anti-government militants. Over 150,000 people have been killed in the fighting, and millions have been forced to flee from their homes.

In another meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Maurer submitted a report on the efforts of the Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid to crisis-hit countries.

He also expressed appreciation for Iran’s cooperation with the Red Cross in helping countries in need.

Commenting on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria, he criticized the efforts to politicize the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Syria.

Abdollahian, who is Iran’s deputy foreign minister for African and Arab affairs, elaborated on the assistance that Iran has sent to the Syrian people and said Iran is ready to cooperate with the Red Cross in these activities.

He also stated that humanitarian issues should not be politicized.