TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani strongly criticized the US for interfering in Syrias internal affairs, and said that Washington is scared of the popular support enjoyed by the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and that is why they are against his nomination in the upcoming presidential election in 2014.What is behind the US officials allowing themselves to say that a person should not nominate himself for the next Syrian presidential election, Larijani asked, and said, This is very outrageous, you used to say that Mr. Bashar (Assad) does not have a popular base and we want to establish democracy there, then why are you afraid of his nomination (in presidential election)?
The Iranian parliament speaker underlined that there are many contradictions in the statements of the US officials and if they review the remarks they have made during last year they will come to know its contradictions.
Larijani underlined that Assad enjoys wide popular support and will be elected as President in any election and that's why Washington is afraid of his nomination in the election.
Earlier this month, President Assad underlined that it was up to the nation to pick its president, criticizing the opposition and foreign leaders of trying to take the choice from the Syrians.
In an interview with the German newspaper Der Spiegel, the Syrian president outlined his plans to run for president of the Muslim country, saying that his decision to vie for the next term would depend on whether he feels the backing of the nation behind him.
"I'm not in a position to say right now whether I will run or not," he told the German daily.
"If I no longer know that I have the will of the people behind me, then I will not run," Assad said, adding, I belong to the Syrian people, and not to myself alone.
He also stated that the ongoing conflict was imported into the country from outside. The president also admitted the government had made mistakes when handling protesters.
By Fars News Agency
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
