DHAKA: Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Wednesday he hoped that a US pledge to pursue diplomacy to remove the threat of chemical weapons in Syria was ‘serious’.

Irans’ state news agency IRNA reported, says The Jerusalem Post.

‘I am hopeful that the United States’ new attitude to Syria is serious and not a game with the media. For weeks they have threatened war against the people of this region for the benefit of the Zionists (Israel),’ he said during a public address.

Iran is the main regional ally of Syrian president Bashar Assad, who is embroiled in civil war with rebels who have support from Western powers.

US president Barack Obama has pledged to explore a Russian plan to remove Syria’s chemical arsenal, but voiced scepticism about it and urged Americans to support his threat to use military force if needed.

BDST: 1558 HRS, SEPT 11, 2013
RoR/GCP