Sep 17, 2018

Iran said Monday it is committed to protecting civilians if its Syrian regime ally launches a full-scale offensive on the country's last rebel stronghold of Idlib province.

"The humanitarian issue is of significant importance to us," foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told journalists in Tehran.

"In line with our policy of fighting terrorism and reclaiming Syria's territorial integrity, we are highly determined to solve the Idlib issue so that the people are not harmed," he added.

Tehran is a key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's seven-year conflict, and has said it is ready to support an assault by regime forces on the rebel-held province.

Iran, Russia and Turkey met at a Tehran summit on September 7 to discuss the expected offensive against Idlib but were unable to overcome their differences.