Tehran Revolutionary Guards Statements 'Taken out of Context'
Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday denied the Islamic republic had any Revolutionary Guards in Syria, affirming that media reports quoting the head of the Guards saying that had been published out of context.
"The comments citing General (Mohammed Ali) Jaafari on the presence of Guards in Syria were selective and incorrect... and they are not in any way valid," ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam television.
"Iran does not have any military presence in the region, especially in Syria," he said.
General Jaafari, in a very rare news conference in Tehran on Sunday, had said that members of the Guards' elite Quds Force were in Syria and Lebanon as advisors -- and asserting that they did not constitute a "military presence."
"A number of Quds Force members are present in Syria and Lebanon. But it does not mean that we have a military presence there. We provide them with counsel and advice, and transfer experience to them," Jaafari told the press and television reporters for Iranian and a few foreign news outlets.
"We provide them with our experience, while other countries are not shy of supporting terrorist groups," he said, using the epithet Tehran and Damascus employ to designate Syria's rebels they say are armed by Western and Gulf Arab nations.
"It is our pride, as the supreme leader has said, to defend Syria which is part of (anti-Israel) resistance," he said.
His comments were reported by Iranian news agencies, including the official outlet IRNA, ISNA and the news website of the Revolutionary Guards (Sepah News). They corresponded to an audio recording of the entire news conference made by AFP.
Lebanon on Monday said it had officially demanded that Iran explain Jaafari's reported comments.
over 11 years
so what "context" was this again?
over 11 years
yeah that elephant can fly but not too high
over 11 years
Oops! Too late! :). Thugs!
over 11 years
The Iranian regime has NO credibility, ZERO.
It is not only acceptable in their beliefs to lie, it is encouraged as a means of achieving their ends.
The Iranian "pilgrims" were not IRGC..... OK some of them were IRGC, but they are retired members, no longer active.... OK, they were active IRGC, but they were only in Syria as "advisors", not as a military presence..... OK, maybe they were active militarily, but only from Quds Force Division, not the regular IRGC.
Just like nobody believes them about their "non desire" to build a nuclear bomb. And their subordinates lies about who started the 2006 war, or who won the war, or whether they will use their arms internally (like on May 7 2008). Or their continued lies about their involvement in drug dealing, car stealing and kidnapping.
Lies lies lies
over 11 years
So you deny your people's presence in Syria, But what about Lebanon you said nothing, strange.
over 11 years
How about the zionist advisers lady geagea, gemayel have and help baby boy harriri transport weapons and terrorists to Syria to kill innocent people? Lebanon should aim efforts to curb this and not wast time on those whom helped liberate Lebanon from occupation and mass murderers, just keep in mind whom killed, raped and slaughtered Palestinians in Sabra Shatila!
over 11 years
Everyone knew that you are directing Hizbollah, and that they are an obedient puppet at your service. There is no other context or explanation to it! You are well-advised to check if your money is well-spent on those bootlickers, you thugs !
over 11 years
Mixing up Bahrain and Syria was probably out of context too. We know what you mean and what your goals are.
over 11 years
Since they are in there as 'advisors" then there is no reason the other side can't have advisors either.
over 11 years
Yes, because in fact the Revolutionary Guards stationed in Lebanon and Syria are actually part of the Meteorology Corps, and are only here to find out about the weather...
lol