The Times: A former Iranian President and close ally of the incumbent has accused the Syrian Government of using chemical weapons against its own people, exposing a split in Tehran.

In comments that will cause huge embarrassment to Tehran and are certain to be seized upon by the US, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been caught on tape accusing Syrian forces of carrying out the chemical attack that killed more than 1,400 people in the Damascus suburbs two weeks ago. Like the Assad regime, Iran has until now blamed rebel forces for the atrocity.

“The people have been the target of a chemical attack by their own government and now they must wait for American bombs,” said Mr Rafsanjani, 79. The comments were first reported by the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) on Sunday night.
Tehran backtracked frantically yesterday. The ILNA edited Mr Rafsanjani’s remarks, removing any blame on Damascus. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied the report, declaring that the former President “regards Syria as a strong fortress in confronting the Zionist regime”.

However, a recording of Mr Rafsanjani speaking appeared on Iranian news sites last night.

This is the second time in recent days that Mr Rafsanjani, who remains a powerful figure in Iranian politics, has reportedly denounced the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. Speaking at a mosque in the southern city of Isfahan on Friday, he was claimed to have said: “A government that uses chemical weapons against its own people will suffer grave consequences, just as Saddam did for his use of chemical weapons in Halabja and suffered a terrible fate.”