Syria would be a haven for terrorists if Assad goes, says Iran

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator said if Syria’s president was forced to stand down, the country would be left as a “haven for terrorists”.

Deputy Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi also warned that fighters who had travelled from Europe and joined terrorists in Syria could eventually return to European capitals, leading to a dangerous situation.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, he expressed dismay at the killing of an Iranian diplomat in Yemen this week, adding: “This is one of the dangers threatening all of us in the region. It’s not only contained in Yemen, it could spread to the whole region and maybe to Europe.”