Tillerson: Russia, Iran share ‘responsibility’ for Syrian attack
By Associated Press | Posted: Tue 3:15 PM, Apr 04, 2017
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says Russia and Iran bear “great moral responsibility” for deaths from an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria.
Tillerson is calling on Russia and Iran to use their influence over Syrian President Bashar Assad to prevent future chemical weapons attacks. He says they bear moral responsibility because they have declared themselves to be the guarantors of a ceasefire they helped broker in Astana, Kazakhstan.
He says in a statement that Iran and Russia shouldn’t have any illusions about Assad or his intentions. Tillerson says anyone using chemical weapons to attack his own people must be held accountable for a “fundamental disregard for human decency.”
Tillerson says the chemical weapons attack makes clear that Assad operates “with brutal, unabashed barbarism.” He says Syria needs a “genuine ceasefire” and that anyone supporting armed combatants there must help ensure compliance.
