Syria: Israel's Iranophobia plot to sow discord

(press tv) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallim The Syrian Foreign Minister urges certain Arab countries not to be deceived by Israeli media hype which tries to spread Iranophobia in the Middle East.  “Iran, as a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), has stood behind Arabs and supported our demands,” Walid al-Muallim told Syrian TV ahead of an OIC ministerial meeting in Damascus.  With the main goal of diverting international attention from a peace settlement with the Palestinians, Israeli officials have strived to disseminate the idea of a so-called “Iranian threat” throughout the Arab world.  Syria's top diplomat said Israel is doing its best to put Arabs against Iran and spread “Iranophobia” in the region adding that Tel Aviv is attempting to create divisions between Arabs and Iran to “weaken our stances in acquiring our rights.”  Muallim called on Arabs not to forget that “the main enemy of Arabs is the Zionist regime.”  He also blamed those who pursue a policy to sow the seeds of discord among regional countries.  Iran relations with some Arab governments including Egypt and Saudi Arabia became tense after Tehran criticized their silence and lack of action against Israel's military onslaught against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which left nearly 1,400 dead, most of them civilians.  Relations soured even more when Egyptian and Saudi leaders accused Iran of trying to take control over the Middle East.  With a watchful eye on Israeli efforts to drive a wedge between Arabs and Iranians, Tehran says it does not constitute a threat to the Middle East.  In mid-May Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said that Tehran is not looking for a fight with Arab countries.  “We have always supported and respected Arab countries,” said Larijani. “We believe regional countries should set aside their differences and join forces to ensure Middle East's security.”  Larijani rejected recent claims suggesting Iran is trying to dominate the entire region as “absurd” and asserted that the country seeks nothing except cordial relations with its neighboring states.  The Speaker warned that Israel aims to turn Arab states against the Islamic Republic to advance its own political agenda in the region.