TEHRAN -- The Syrian ambassador to Iran has said that Damascus completely dismisses allegations that Tehran is interfering in the internal affairs of the country.

Ambassador Hamed Hassan made the remarks during an interview with ISNA which was published on Monday. His comments were later translated into English.
“Such allegations that are being made in line with (efforts to exert) political and economic pressure on Syria and Iran are just lies and have no basis in fact,” he stated.
“Syria completely denies those allegations,” Hassan added.
Commenting on relations between Iran and Syria, he said, “Relations between the two countries are strong, and strategic relations have been established between the two countries since the victory of the Islamic Revolution.”
Hassan also said, “Iran-Syria ties are in line with the interests of Muslim and Arab countries.”
In addition, relations between the two countries are based on their independent decisions and their disapproval of Israel’s occupation policy in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, he stated.
Turkey’s stance toward Syria unrest surprising
Commenting on the stance that Turkey has adopted toward the developments playing out in Syria, Hassan said, “Economic and political relations between Syria and Turkey have been in a good state in recent years, but the recent position that Turkey has taken toward developments in our country is ambiguous and surprising in the view of Syrians and many others in the world.”
Turkey has so far hosted four meetings with the Syrian opposition, he added.
“The Syrian government approves of the continuation of good relations with Turkey and hopes that they (Turkish officials) will understand the realities on the ground in Syria,” the diplomat noted.
However, Turkey has revised its stance toward developments in Syria after parliamentary elections was held in the country on June 12, he added.
Syria’s case is different
The Syrian ambassador also said that the developments taking place in Syria are different than those occurring in other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
“The Syrian government is always committed to independent national decision-making and has announced that its objective is to support the resistance movement against occupation and has played a major role in foiling U.S. plots. They (the Americans) have taken advantage of the developments in Syria and are devising conspiracies against Syria,” he stated.
Hassan added that certain Western countries, including the United States and France as well as a number of Arab countries have been interfering in the internal affairs of Syria.
The majority of people support the Syrian government and its policies, and President Bashar al-Assad has adopted a positive approach and has taken measures to fulfill public demands and has initiated political, economic, and legal reforms, the diplomat stated.
Some Saudi organizations assist Syrian opposition
Asked about the claims that Saudi Arabia is furnishing the Syrian opposition with weapons, Hassan said, “There is no substance to such news reports.”
He added that official organizations in Saudi Arabia are not taking such measures and are not assisting the Syrian government’s opponents. Relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia are in a good state.”
“However, certain people and groups in Saudi Arabia are providing the Syrian opposition financial and media assistance” or issue some fatwas (religious edicts) which fan the flames of sedition in the country, Hassan said