Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is rejecting calls to remove Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad from power, saying that doing so would extend the Syrian civil war.
Zarif claimed that those who want Assad to step down "are responsible for the bloodshed in Syria." He did not mention any country by name, but analysts believe that he was referring to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Both have repeated demanded that Assad give up his power and have supported rebel groups.