Iran does not seek to ensure Bashar al-Assad's rule forever, rather it wants Iraq and Syria to get rid of terrorism, former Iranian nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian told Al-Jazeera in an interview.
Some 60 percent of the Syrian territory is controlled by terrorist groups such as ISIS and al-Nusra Front who have the backing of the Saudis, he said, adding, "Today the world needs to decide which one has priority: taking on terrorism or countering Assad."
Iran believes terrorism should be defeated to ensure Syria's territorial integrity; Iran also believes that the Syrian people should decide their own future in elections held under the auspices of the UN. But those elections should come after Syria gets rid of the scourge of terrorism, Mousavian said.

By IFP