TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Syria’s foreign minister is accusing the United States of double standards and says the decision by the Obama administration to provide aid to rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad is prolonging the conflict.

Walid al-Moallem says it’s inconceivable that Washington allocates $60 million in assistance to Syrian opposition groups while it continues to "kill the Syrian people" through economic sanctions imposed against the country.

Al-Moallem spoke at a joint press conference in Tehran on Saturday with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

The top Syrian diplomat warned against foreign interference, saying Syria’s sovereignty is a "red line."

He added that the Syrian people will decide who their next president will be through elections scheduled for next year.