TEHRAN (Sputnik) — Iran currently sees no alternatives to Bashar Assad as president of Syria, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Wednesday.
"We see no suitable alternative to Bashar Assad as leader of Syria," Abdollahian said, speaking at a university in Tehran.
The United States, the European Union, as well as their allies in the Middle Eastern region consider Syrian President Bashar Assad to be illegitimate and call for his resignation, while Russia and Iran insist that it was up to Syrian people to decide the fate of their country and leadership.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting against numerous opposition and extremist groups.