Iran: Congress Not Authorised to Allow Syria Strikes

TEHRAN: The US Congress is not authorised to green-light American military strikes against Syria as any such action would be in violation of international law, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Sunday.

The News
September 1, 2013

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Iran’s reaction came a day after US President Barack Obama said he was seeking congressional approval for punitive military action against the Syrian regime over its suspected use of chemical weapons against civilians, which Washington says killed more than 1,400 people.

“Mr Obama cannot interpret and construe international law for his own (benefit),” Zarif told reporters after a late afternoon cabinet meeting, the ISNA news agency reported.

“Congress cannot authorise strikes (against Syria) and that attack would be in violation of international law,” he said, explaining that “only the UN Security Council — under special conditions — can issue authorization” for the use of force to restore international peace.

Steadfastly opposed to any military threat against Syria, Iran has condemned the use of chemical weapons there but echoed claims from Damascus that rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad may have executed the attack.

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