President Hassan Rouhani has condemned a new US plan to set up a militant force near Syria’s border with Turkey, saying it constitutes a breach of international law and a plot against the Arab country's sovereignty.
According to Press TV, Rouhani made the remarks in a meeting with the Speaker of People's Council of Syria Hammouda Youssef Sabbagh in Tehran on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 13th Session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Conference.
"The plot that the Americans have recently hatched for Syria is against international law and a plot against the territorial integrity and security of Syria and the region," Rouhani said.
The US announced on Sunday that it will work, along with a coalition of its allies purportedly fighting Daesh, with US-backed militants of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to set up a new 30,000-strong “border security” force.
The force would operate along the Turkish border with Iraq and within Syria along the Euphrates River.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian president said the fight against terrorists and foreign intervention must be continued in Syria and called for adopting measures to help the Syrian refugees’ return to their homeland as soon as possible.
He added that the reconstruction of the war-stricken country should start and noted that the Islamic Republic would stand by the Syrian government and nation in this regard.
Rouhani also stressed the importance of proceeding with political talks and measures aimed at restoring the rights of the Syrian people.
The top Syrian parliamentarian, for his part, said Damascus opposes the presence of US forces in its soil and has officially called for their withdrawal.
Iran wants united Iraq: Rouhani
Also, in a meeting with Iraq's Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri, the Iranian president hailed achievements made by the Iraqi government and nation in fighting terrorism and foiling the enemies' plots to sow discord among the Iraqis.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always sought a united Iraq and the prevention of change to the geographical border of regional countries," Rouhani said.
Jabouri, for his part, said Muslim countries should boost constructive interaction and cooperation to solve the ongoing problems in the Muslim world.
He also said Iran plays a constructive and positive role in finding solutions to regional issues.
