Iranian Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Masoud Jayazeri has condemned U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's comments on Washington's review of military options in Syria, and has warned that an intervention would have dire consequences for the United States, FNA reported Aug. 25.
Former Iranian Ambassador to Jordan Mohammad Irani warned the United States and Israel on Aug. 25 that conditions are not ripe for a military intervention in Syria, FNA reported.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Aug. 24 spoke with his Syrian counterpart, Wali Muallem about the alleged chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21 that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians, an unnamed senior U.S. official said, The Telegraph reported.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Aug. 24 that his government has resumed talks with the United States over a proposed security pact known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, Xinhua reported.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, commonly known as the FARC, suspended peace talks with the Colombian government on Aug. 23, Reuters reported Aug. 24.
There is proof that rebel groups carried out chemical weapons attacks in Damascus on Aug. 21 that opposition groups claim were conducted by the Syrian regime, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Aug. 24, AFP reported.
The Pentagon is moving naval forces closer to Syria in preparation for the possibility of President Barack Obama ordering military strikes in the country, U.S. Secretary of State Chuck Hagel said during a Aug. 23 news conference, CBS and Reuters reported.
Brazil's central bank Aug. 23 launched a currency intervention program that will run through the remainder of the year in an effort to strengthen the real, Estadao reported.