Iranian Foreign Ministry: Iranians who were abducted in Syria are not military personnel

TEHRAN– A source at the Iranian Foreign Ministry refuted allegations made by some mass media outlets claiming that the Iranians who were abducted in Syria are military personnel.

The source said that such allegations are completely baseless, and that making such allegations and the exploitation of this incident shows irresponsibility on the part of media outlets and has no justification.

The incident in question is the abduction of 48 Iranian visitors on their way to visit the shrine of al-Sayyede Zainab in Damascus by armed terrorists.

Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council, Ali Larijani, pointed to a new plan sought by the international parties to undermine the regime in Syria and spread chaos in it.

Addressing the Council on Sunday, Larijani said all indicators in the region including the resignation of the UN envoy Kofi Annan, the contacts made by the U.S. officials with the regional countries and the military support to the terrorist groups in Syria show that a new plan is resorted to to target the regime in Syria.

"The fire raging in Syria will burn the Zionists," the Iranian Speaker added, noting that those Zionists who have issued more hostile statements against Iran and Hezbollah are confused by the rapid developments in the region.

Monday 06-08-2012