TEHRAN, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday expressed his country's support for Syria's stability and integrity, the official news agency IRNA reported.
He made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh following their meeting earlier in the day in Tehran, according to the report.
Araghchi said Israel's spread of its "warmongering" from Gaza to Lebanon and Syria was indicative of its "belligerent, expansionist and criminal" nature and aimed at compromising peace and stability in the region.
He called on the international community and the United Nations to end the "existing inaction" and condemn Israeli "crimes."
On Israel's latest attack against Iran on Oct. 26, Araghchi said, "We will respond at the appropriate time."
The Iranian foreign minister said he held "very good and positive negotiations" with Sabbagh about the developments in the region and bilateral relations.
Noting that Iran is determined to expand bilateral cooperation with Syria in various areas, Araghchi assured that Iran has stood by the Syrian people and government and will continue to do so.
For his part, the Syrian foreign minister said, "the escalation of Israel's tension in West Asia is in line with the U.S.-Israeli project aiming to redraw the region's map."
Sabbagh added that Israel had perpetrated "crimes" in the Syrian territory, including by carrying out a deadly attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus in April.
He said that Israel's "crimes" should be stopped, calling for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-stricken areas in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Syrian foreign minister emphasized that his country opposes any form of occupation and supports Iran's right to respond to any "crime," while noting that Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights must end. ■
