Khamenei Accuses Israel, U.S. of being Responsible for Syria Conflict

The United States and Israel are responsible for the conflict scorching Syria by "flooding weapons" to rebels there, the supreme leader of Iran -- the main ally of Syria's regime -- said on Friday, according to his official website.

"The main and behind-the-scenes operators behind the painful issues in Syria are America and the Zionist regime," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi on the sidelines of a Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran.

"The main operators in the Syrian issue are those who have been flooding weapons into Syria and financially backing the irresponsible groups," Khamenei said.

Halaqi thanked Khamenei for Iran's support, and delivered greetings from Syrian President Bashar Assad, who did not attend the NAM summit.

"The Syrian government is determined to confront all terrorist groups and to cleanse areas of these groups while moving ahead with political reforms and national dialogue," he was quoted as saying.

Khamenei, whose country is seeking a mediating role in the Syrian conflict, said the NAM was a more legitimate forum "to tackle Syria's issues than America, NATO and some European nations."

He called the bloodshed in Syria "unacceptable" but said it was "the Syrian government that has been the victim of current events."

He urged Halaqi to "remove all pretexts" preventing the opposition from engaging in dialogue and to press on with promised political reforms.

Khamenei also called on Damascus to denounce "this plot in Syria to the world and Arab public opinion."

Syrian and Iran have accused the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey of sustaining the uprising.

The Syrian opposition and U.S. officials charge that Iran is supplying money, arms and fighters to help Assad maintain his grip on power.