Iran says 'Americans and Zionists' behind Syrian protests

Report: Spokesperson for Iran says protests Western plot to undermine Assad's "resistence" gov't, "no one should be fooled by American trick."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
syrian protests_311 reuters (photo credit: REUTERS/Ho New)
syrian protests_311 reuters
(photo credit: REUTERS/Ho New)
Iran considers the anti-government demonstrations taking place across Syria which have seen at least 300 protesters killed part of a plot by the West to undermine a "resistance"-supporting government led by Bashar al-Assad, Beirut based The Daily Star reported Tuesday.
According to The Daily Star, while Iran was quick to laud anti-regime demonstrations in countries like Tunisia or Egypt, both considered western-backed, the government in Tehran was slow in issuing comments on the Syrian situation.
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At his weekly news conference, the Iranian regime's spokesperson said that the Syrian protests are a result of foreign interference.
The spokesperson went on to blame "Americans and Zionists" for partaking in the "mischievous act" of inciting anti-government sentiment among Syrians, the Daily Star reported, adding "no one should be fooled by this trick that Americans are playing.”
Iran has a record of violently suppressing opposition protests occurring in its own country. Two people were shot in February in the first move of the anti-government group in Iran to stage mass demonstrations since the rallies that broke out and were put down by the Iranian regime in 2009 following Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinjead's re-election.
In March, Assad himself implied Israeli interests as a factor in the recent protests against him in Syria, saying "Our enemies’ aim was to divide Syria as a country and force an Israeli agenda onto it, and they will continue to try and try again.”
Israel has blamed both Iran and Syria for supporting and Hezbollah, and for helping smuggle weapons to both groups.