Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qasemi, referred to reports of an alleged chemical attack in Douma, in Eastern Ghouta, saying the Islamic Republic of Iran forthrightly and unequivocally condemns the use of such weapons by any party and anywhere in the world, based on religious and moral teachings of Islam, and given the fact that Iran itself is a victim of chemical weapons. Qasemi referred to this as a central principle of Iran's foreign policy.
In further remarks, the Foreign Ministry spokesman refuted allegations that the Syrian Government was behind a chemical attack on the city of Douma, emphasizing that the Syrian government was on the verge of a great victory (against the terrorists), and clearly there was no need to resort to chemical weapons. Qasemi emphasized that claims about alleged use of chemical weapons by Damascus were not compatible with realities on the ground in Syria.
In further comments, Qasemi said the Syrian government has cooperated well with the United Nations on chemical issues, and after joining the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) , the United Nations supervised the destruction of all stockpiles of chemical weapons and weapons manufacturing facilities in Syria.
He pointedly added: "When the Syrian army has the upper-hand in the battle field against armed terrorists, using outlawed chemical weapons seems totally illogical".
Elsewhere in his remarks, Qasemi warned that such claims by the US and a number of other Western countries is an indication of a new plot against the Syrian government and the Syrian people. Qasemi said such baseless claims can be used as an excuse to initiate military action against Syria. He added: "It will certainly make the situation more complex in Syria and in the region".
Qasemi reiterated that false accusations against Damascus, will encourage the terrorists, and egg them on to commit even more serious crimes, which of course, will not be in the interests of peace, stability and security of the region as a whole.
