Rouhani: Iran will stay in Syria

The President of the Iranian regime Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday (Sep. 26) that Iran would stay in Syria for as long as the Assad regime wanted it there, but said Tehran was not seeking conflict with the United States in the Middle East, Times of Israel reported.

Attending the UN General Assembly, Rouhani defended Iran’s military support for the Assad regime, claiming Iranian help was needed as a bulwark to defeat ISIS.

“Our presence in Syria will continue for such time that the ASSAD REGIME requests our presence,” Rouhani told a news conference.

But Rouhani directed his comments toward the US, saying “We do not wish to go to war with American forces anywhere in the region. We do not wish to attack them; we do not wish to increase tensions.

“But we ask the United States to adhere to laws and to respect national sovereignty of nations,” he added.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, addressing a pressure group on Tuesday, vowed to act “swiftly and decisively” to any Iranian action that damages US interests in the region.