Iran’s President: Assad Should Stay to Fight Terrorists

"In Syria, when our first objective is to drive out terrorists and combating terrorists to defeat them, we have no solution other than to strengthen the central authority and the central government of that country as a central seat of power,” President Rouhani made the remarks in an interview with CNN on Sunday.

"So I think today everyone has accepted that President Assad must remain so that we can combat the terrorists,” he added.

"However, as soon as this movement reaches the various levels of success and starts driving out the terrorists on a step-by-step basis, then other plans must be put into action so as to hear the voices of the opposition as well."

The Iranian president also stressed that Iran, with the United States, does not have any direct talks vis-a-vis Syria, adding, “But Iran simultaneously with the European Union, as well as other countries, does have talks regarding Syria."

"And those parties to the talks with Iran about Syria are in direct conversations with the United States as well. So perhaps not direct, but there are talks,” President Rouhani said.

Elsewhere in the interview, Rouhani referred to Russia’s decision to help the Syrian government in its battle against the Takfiri terrorists and said the United States, which has expressed outrage at Russia's move, should not be surprised.

"The few times that we have met with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, he spoke in quite a bit of detail about this very issue," Rouhani said. "Russia has decided to undertake a much more serious level of operations in combat against the terrorists in Syria."

"And during the last meeting he did announce that some countries such as Iran, Iraq, or Russia must form a semi, a quasi, coalition in order to assist in this fight against Daesh and other groups resembling it."

"And he told me that he had even spoken with Mr. Obama about this topic, and he would like to renew his commitment to the fight and the defeat of Daesh or ISIL."

"And he told me, President Putin said, that Mr. Obama welcomed that analysis and that plan. So even previously the United States of America was made aware."

Asked if he had a chance to follow the US Congress debate regarding Iran’s nuclear agreement, President Rouhani said, "Sometimes when I would have time, some of it was broadcast live and I would watch it -- some of it was quite laughable. It was very strange, the things that they spoke of.”

"Some of them (congressmen) wouldn't even know where Tehran was in relation to Iran. Some of them didn't know where Iran was geographically, not distinguishing that one is the capital of the other."

"So what they spoke of was quite far away from the truth. So the people of Iran were looking at it as a form of entertainment, if you will, and found it laughable," he added.

Rouhani also said if the US reneges on its promises laid down in the text of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), it would destroy its credibility abroad, and Iran would abide by its commitment to the accord.

"Can a government become a signatory to an international agreement and then the subsequent government tear it to shreds? This is something that only the likes of Saddam Hussein would do," he said.

"Saddam Hussein, previous to attacking Iran in 1980, did sign an agreement with Iran and then tore it to shreds himself and then attacked Iran."

The Iranian president said, "So any government that replaces the current government must keep itself committed to the commitments given by the previous administration; otherwise, that government, that entire country, will lose trust internationally and no longer have the type of needed trust to operate in the international arena."

"So finally, I think most of these are political slogans at best."

Elsewhere in the interview, the Iranian president also said that Iran would be inclined to release American prisoners, if the US releases Iranians it is holding.

Rouhani said, "If the Americans take the appropriate steps and set them free, certainly the right environment will be open and the right circumstances will be created for us to do everything within our power and our purview to bring about the swiftest freedom for the Americans held in Iran as well."

Iran and the Group 5+1 – the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany (also known as P5+1 or E3+3)– on July 14 reached an agreement on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.