Iran warns US against ‘dangerous’ Syria escalation

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea, Friday, April 7, 2017. The United States blasted a Syrian air base with a barrage of cruise missiles in fiery retaliation for this week’s gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians. US NAVY MCS 3RD CLASS FORD WILLIAMS VIA AP)

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran warned the United States on Tuesday against a “dangerous” escalation in Syria after Washington accused President Bashar al-Assad of possibly preparing another chemical attack for which he would pay a “heavy price”.

“Another dangerous US escalation in Syria on fake pretext will only serve ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group), precisely when it’s being wiped out by Iraqi and Syrian people,” tweeted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

READ: White House warns Syria’s Assad against chemical attack

Iran is the key political and military backer of Assad alongside Russia, which has also criticized Washington’s “threats”.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Monday said in a statement that the US “has identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result in the mass murder of civilians.”

“If… Mr Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price,” the statement said.

The US launched a cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base in April following a chemical weapons attack allegedly carried out by Assad’s regime.

Iran is helping in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, but its support for Assad has put it fiercely at odds with Western countries. CBB