US, Saudi presence in Syria illegal: Velayati

A senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the United States’ and Saudi Arabia’s presence in Syrian territory is illegal.

“The presence in Syria by such countries as the US and Saudi Arabia, who intervene there without the Syrian government’s consent, is illegal,” Ali Akbar Velayati, who advises the Leader on international affairs, said on Saturday, Press TV reported.

“Making decisions as to Syria’s future is up to Syrian people,” he said, adding, “Others are disallowed to meddle in Syria’s internal affairs.”

Velayati also remarked on the failed coup in Turkey in July, which was conducted by a faction of the Turkish military.

“What recently happened in Turkey had different results, including [clarifying] who the real friends of Turkey are and who aren’t,” he said.

Citing the Islamic Republic’s condemnation of the putsch, Velayati said, “It became clear that Iran is a real friend of the Turkish government and nation. Despite differences, Iran came to the help of the Turkish people and government on the day of the incident and backed the legitimate Turkish government.”

Iran was the first country to condemn the failed putsch in Turkey.

On Friday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif traveled to the Turkish capital, Ankara, in a first visit by a high-ranking Iranian official to Turkey since the July 15 coup bid.

Zarif met with his counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussing crucial issues of mutual interest and the means of resolving differences between Iran and Turkey.

SS