“There has been no alteration in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy of support for Syria,” Amir Abdollahian said ahead of an international meeting on Syria planned to be held Friday in the Austrian capital of Vienna.
“Tehran has always backed the fight against terrorism and the political process in Syria and will continue this approach (in the future),” he added.
The senior diplomat also said those who seek to exclude Syrian President Bashar al-Assad know well that in the framework of a political process, it is only the people of Syria who should decide on their fate.
As for the upcoming Syria meeting in Vienna, Amir Abdollahian described it as an opportunity for helping the fight against terrorism, enhancing the political process and efforts for recognizing the realities of the Arab country and the region.
On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will take part in the Vienna meeting aimed at discussing ways to end the ongoing crisis in Syria.
The foreign ministers of Russia, the US, and several European and Arab countries will also attend the one-day gathering in the Austrian capital, Afkham added.
She further noted that the Iranian delegation as well as those of Russia and the European Union will also confer on different regional issues and other areas of mutual interest on the sidelines of the meeting.
Syria has been in a civil war since 2011, with opposition factions and terrorist groups such as ISIL and the Nusra Front fighting the Syrian Army.
More than 250,000 people have been killed so far in Syria due to the violence perpetrated by the terrorists.