MNA � �In line with international law, Iran supports the inherit right of the Syrian government to fight terrorists designated by the Security Council,� said Iranian ambassador to the UN, Majid Takht-Ravanchi.

Addressing the 8553rd meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday on the topic of �the situation in the Middle East�, the envoy noted that �Iran continues consultation with other guarantors of the Astana Format on a range of issues including Idlib de-escalation area to which we attach great importance.�

�While international humanitarian law must be fully observed by all without exception, this cannot and should not be used as a pretext to call for stopping the fight against terrorism,� he said, adding, �fighting against the most dangerous terrorist groups who have taken large number of civilians as hostages is a must. This, in fact, is a practical protection of civilians and should lead to the release of all civilians who are trapped in terrorists-held areas.�

�It is also obvious that these internationally designated terrorist groups cannot and should not be allowed to continue their control over a large part a sovereign state�s territory, otherwise Idlib will certainly turn to a safe haven for the cruelest terrorists to continue conducting their operations and to kill more civilians inside and outside of Idlib.�