Iran leader: Strikes in Syria illegal, no gov’t OK
In this Sept. 10, 2013 photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during an interview with state television at the presidency in Tehran, Iran. One year ago, President Barack Obama and Rouhani came close to ending the decades-long freeze on face-to-face meetings between their countriesÕ leaders. In late September 2014 both men are scheduled to again be in New York for United Nations meetings but expectations for even a handshake are more muted than they were last fall. (AP Photo/Presidency Office, Rouzbeh Jadidoleslam)
NEW YORK >> Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says the U.S.-led coalition’s airstrikes in Syria are illegal because they were not approved or coordinated with Syria’s government.
Meeting Tuesday with several news editors on the first day of the United Nations General Assembly gathering of world leaders, Rouhani stressed that Iran condemns the Islamic State group for trampling on human rights and torturing and killing civilians. He says Iran stands ready to help fight terrorism.
Rouhani said the U.S. policy is confused because it simultaneously opposes the militants while also trying to undermine the government of Syria’s President Bashar Assad.
“This is clearly nebulous and ambiguous at best,” he said. “This is a very confusing behavior and policy.”
Nighttime raids began Monday on Islamic State militants in Syria.
