TEHRAN - A senior Iranian official has reiterated the Islamic Republic’s support for Syria and Iraq in their fight against terrorism, stressing that there is “no military solution” to the ongoing crises gripping the two Arab countries.

In an exclusive interview with PressTV, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said Iran will continue to stand by Syria and Iraq in their anti-terror battles at the behest of the governments in Baghdad and Damascus.

“The security of [the] region is the security of Iran,” said Velayati, adding, “If Iraq or Syria or any other neighboring country is in danger…, we should not remain indifferent. So...on the base of the request of the legal governments of Baghdad and Damascus, we have tried to help these two governments to fight against terrorism.”

Referring to the international talks on the crisis in Syria, Velayati said the Islamic Republic only supports intra-Syrian dialogue aimed at ending the violence in the Arab state, rejecting any negotiations with terror groups.

The Iranian official further emphasized that it is up to Syrians themselves to decide the future of their country.

------ Iran MP rejects as 'psywar' claims of cutback in Syria military advisors

A senior Iranian lawmaker has dismissed allegations of a decline in the number of Iranian military advisors in Syria, saying the claims are aimed at undermining the anti-Daesh campaign in Syria.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who chairs the Foreign Policy and National Security Committee of Iran's parliament (Majlis), said on Thursday that a ""psychological war"" was initiated as soon as Iran, Russia, Syria and Iraq joined hands to fight Takfiri terrorism.

He said that this psychological war stems from the failure of the US and its allies in their so-called fight on terrorism while the ""four-nation alliance [of Iran, Russia, Syria and Iraq] has managed to achieve massive and effective victories in a short period of time.""
Iran has sent military advisors to Syria to provide assistance to the Arab country in the fight against the terrorists operating there.

Also on Thursday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reiterated the country's support for the Syrian people and government in their fight against ""terrorists whose hands are stained with the blood of oppressed Syrian people.""

In a meeting in Tehran with the Grand Mufti of Syria the Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Amir-Abdollahian said there has been “no shift” in Iran’s policy of supporting the Syrian government and safeguarding the Arab country’s territorial integrity.