Iran denies kidnapped in Syria were on diplomatic mission

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Aug 5, IRNA -- An informed source at Foreign Ministry on Sunday ruled out certain Arab media reports that the Iranian pilgrims kidnapped in Syria were members of Iran's armed forces military.

According to the source, such allegations and hijacking the vehicle of Iranian pilgrims and kidnapping them lack any legal justification and it is due to non- commitment and irresponsibility of such media.

A total of 48 Iranian pilgrims were kidnapped on Saturday, while they were on their way to their hotel of residence in Damascus.

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in two separate telephone conversations with his Qatari and Turkish counterparts had asked them to do their best to free the Iranian pilgrims in Syria and they also pledged to do their best for freedom of Iranian pilgrims.

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