By ADAM SCHRECK
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, left, meets with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari, right, after arriving at the Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. Iran’s new foreign minister has arrived in neighboring Iraq on his first trip abroad since taking office. (AP Photo/Saad Shalash, Pool)
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran’s new foreign minister is criticizing possible U.S.-led strikes on Syria as outside the bounds of United Nations charter, saying the use of force is illegal.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comments during a visit Sunday to the Iraqi capital Baghdad. It is his first official trip since taking office last month.
Zarif was responding to a question about a possible attack on Syria and the effect on its allies, including Iran.
He broke away from his native Farsi and spoke in English for effect, saying that “civilized countries” decades ago rejected the use of force “as an illegal practice” when they signed on to the U.N. charter.
