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Deputy Chairman of Iranian Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri warned the United States on Sunday of ‘dire consequences’ if red line crossed on Syria over claims of chemical attacks.  "If the United States crosses this red line, there will be harsh consequences for the White House," Jazayeri was quoted as saying. A year ago US President Barack Obama warned the use of chemical weapons in Syria would cross a "red line" and have "enormous consequences". On Sunday, his Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the US military was ready to take action against Syria. "President Obama has asked the Defense Department to prepare options for all contingencies. We have done that," Hagel told reporters in Malaysia. "Again, we are prepared to exercise whatever option, if he decides to employ one of those options," he said, a day after Obama held a rare meeting his top aides and brass to discuss Syria. But the Iranian military leader warned Washington, its Western allies and Israel against playing with "fire". "The terrorist war underway in Syria was planned by the United States and reactionary countries in the region against the resistance front (against Israel)," Fars news agency quoted Jazayeri as saying. "Despite this, the government and people of Syria have achieved huge successes. "Those who add fire to the oil will not escape the vengeance of the people," added Jazayeri. | ||||
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Tehran warn US against Syria intervention
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Syrian army soldiers are seen deployed in the Jobar neighborhood of Damascus on 24 August 2013. (Photo: AFP / STR)
Updated 1:30 pm: Syria and its ally Iran separately warned the United States against any military action over a suspected chemical weapons attack in Ghouta, shortly after the US defense secretary hinted on Sunday of possible strikes against the Damascus government.
"US military intervention will create a very serious fallout and a ball of fire that will inflame the Middle East," Syrian Information Minister Omran Zoabi was quoted by state news agency SANA as saying to Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen TV.
And in remarks carried by Tehran's state agency, a top Iranian military leader warned Washington, its western allies and Israel against playing with "fire."
"If the United States crosses this red line, there will be harsh consequences for the White House," armed forces deputy chief of staff Massoud Jazayeri was quoted as saying.
A team of United Nations inspectors are waiting in a hotel in Damascus a few miles from the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Ghouta, but Syria suggested they would not be allowed to visit as it was not on a list agreed in July of alleged chemical attacks this year.
US President Barack Obama met his top military and national security advisers on Saturday to debate options. US naval forces have been taken up positions in the Mediterranean to give Obama the option of an armed strike.
"The terrorist war underway in Syria was planned by the United States and reactionary countries in the region against the resistance front (against Israel)," Fars quoted Jazayeri as saying.
"Despite this, the government and people of Syria have achieved huge successes. ... Those who add fire to the oil will not escape the vengeance of the people," added Jazayeri.
Syrian opposition accounts that between 500 and well over 1,000 civilians were killed this week by gas in munitions fired by pro-government forces.
In the most authoritative account so far, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said three hospitals near Damascus had reported 355 deaths in the space of three hours out of about 3,600 admissions with nerve gas-type symptoms.
Major world powers, including Syria's ally Russia, have urged the Syrian leader to cooperate with UN chemical weapons inspectors already in Damascus to pursue earlier allegations.
But Russia said the rebels were impeding an inquiry and that Damascus would have no interest in using poison gas for fear of foreign intervention.
A senior UN official arrived in Damascus on Saturday to seek access for inspectors to the site of last Wednesday's attack but Syria reiterated on Sunday that it had not yet agreed on access to the site.
Information Minister Zoabi said Syria and the UN had previously agreed on inspections of certain sites around Syria from before Wednesday's allegations and will not allow any "inspection that will prejudice national sovereignty."
The minister said Syria would cooperate "significantly and transparently" with prior agreed inspection sites. But he went on to suggest that UN inspectors would not be allowed to visit the site of Wednesday's attack.
Zoabi said Syria "will not allow the existence of inspection committees under any pretext, and this position is final because it is clear to the (UN) inspectors to investigate particular incidents ... in accordance with the agreement between Syria and the United Nations."
(AFP, Reuters)
"US military intervention will create a very serious fallout and a ball of fire that will inflame the Middle East," Syrian Information Minister Omran Zoabi was quoted by state news agency SANA as saying to Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen TV.
And in remarks carried by Tehran's state agency, a top Iranian military leader warned Washington, its western allies and Israel against playing with "fire."
"If the United States crosses this red line, there will be harsh consequences for the White House," armed forces deputy chief of staff Massoud Jazayeri was quoted as saying.
A team of United Nations inspectors are waiting in a hotel in Damascus a few miles from the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Ghouta, but Syria suggested they would not be allowed to visit as it was not on a list agreed in July of alleged chemical attacks this year.
US President Barack Obama met his top military and national security advisers on Saturday to debate options. US naval forces have been taken up positions in the Mediterranean to give Obama the option of an armed strike.
"The terrorist war underway in Syria was planned by the United States and reactionary countries in the region against the resistance front (against Israel)," Fars quoted Jazayeri as saying.
"Despite this, the government and people of Syria have achieved huge successes. ... Those who add fire to the oil will not escape the vengeance of the people," added Jazayeri.
Syrian opposition accounts that between 500 and well over 1,000 civilians were killed this week by gas in munitions fired by pro-government forces.
In the most authoritative account so far, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said three hospitals near Damascus had reported 355 deaths in the space of three hours out of about 3,600 admissions with nerve gas-type symptoms.
Major world powers, including Syria's ally Russia, have urged the Syrian leader to cooperate with UN chemical weapons inspectors already in Damascus to pursue earlier allegations.
But Russia said the rebels were impeding an inquiry and that Damascus would have no interest in using poison gas for fear of foreign intervention.
A senior UN official arrived in Damascus on Saturday to seek access for inspectors to the site of last Wednesday's attack but Syria reiterated on Sunday that it had not yet agreed on access to the site.
Information Minister Zoabi said Syria and the UN had previously agreed on inspections of certain sites around Syria from before Wednesday's allegations and will not allow any "inspection that will prejudice national sovereignty."
The minister said Syria would cooperate "significantly and transparently" with prior agreed inspection sites. But he went on to suggest that UN inspectors would not be allowed to visit the site of Wednesday's attack.
Zoabi said Syria "will not allow the existence of inspection committees under any pretext, and this position is final because it is clear to the (UN) inspectors to investigate particular incidents ... in accordance with the agreement between Syria and the United Nations."
(AFP, Reuters)