PHOTO: Iran Supreme Leader’s top aide, Ali Akbar Velayati (right), with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo on Monday

Facing challenges over its support for Bashar al-Assad, Iran has renewed its declarations that Syria’s President is needed to save the country.

The Supreme Leader’s top advisor for foreign affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, used a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo on Monday to put out the message:

Some countries persisted in overthrowing Bashar Assad, which was a mistake and the world is now facing its repercussions….

No one can save Syria from this situation like Assad and the UN Security Council members as well as the neighboring and regional states should try to find a solution.

Velayati said he and the Spanish Foreign Minister had agreed that “settling the crisis in Syria is not possible militarily and can only be resolved through political means”.

Claiming more than 80 countries have sent fighters to assist Syria’s rebels, Velayati said “Iran has repeatedly underlined the necessity for the ruling of an independent government in Syria if the world does not want to have another Libya”.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took advantage of his press conference with Garcia-Margallo to reiterate Iran’s backing of Assad: “Those who have set a condition about the Syrian president in the past two years should be blamed for the continued war and they should account for the bloodshed in the past few years.”

He continued, “We insist everyone to try the political solution to end the crisis in Syria and give up their dream of bringing about an end to the situation in Syria through military means.”

Tehran is reassessing its position following the collapse of a Russian-Iranian initative in August for high-level political talks on the 4 1/2-year conflict. Saudi Arabia blocked the move by insisting on President Assad’s departure before negotiations developed.

There are signs this week that Russia has responded with increased military support to the Assad regime, including advanced equipment and weapons and the despatch of hundreds of troops to “advise” the Syrian military. Some of the Russians will reportedly work alongside members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in Latakia and Homs Provinces in western Syria.

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