TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast has dismissed claims by the U.S. president that Tehran is helping Syria to suppress protestors.

Mehmanparast made the remarks in an interview with the Al-Alam News Network broadcast on Saturday after U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement on Friday, in which he accused Damascus of seeking Iranian help to repress its people.
In a toughly worded statement, Obama said, “Instead of listening to their own people, President (Bashar) Assad is blaming outsiders while seeking Iranian assistance in repressing Syria’s citizens through the same brutal tactics that have been used by his Iranian allies.”
On Saturday, a Syrian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, criticized Obama’s remarks as “unfounded”.
“Damascus regrets the recent statement issued by U.S. President Barack Obama on the situation in Syria since it is not based on an objective view of the realities on the ground,” the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted the unidentified official as saying.
Syria is dismayed at U.S. insistence on propagating the claim that Damascus is seeking Iran’s assistance to resolve its internal issues, the official said, adding, “This shows the irresponsibility of the United States.”
During the interview, Mehmanparast stated, “We do not approve of remarks on Iran’s meddling in the affairs of certain countries including Syria and dismiss them.”
Such accusations are completely without substance, he stated.
“Our foreign policy is totally clear. We neither interfere in other countries’ affairs nor believe in doing so,” Mehmanparast said.
He also noted that the United States and certain other allies of the Zionist regime are seeking to impose the will of the minority on the majority, adding, “We condemn the U.S. intervention.”
Mehmanparast said the Syrian officials are able to manage their country’s internal situation.
On the suppression of the Syrian protesters, Mehmanparast said Iran does not approve of using violence against the people in any country.
He also expressed hope that the Syrian officials will properly deal with those civilians who have legitimate demands