One day after the U.S. closed the Syrian Embassy in Washington and consulates in other American cities, both Syria and Russia criticized the move as a violation of diplomatic conventions and "worrying," Reuters reported.
In a statement broadcasted on a state-run television station, the Syrian Foreign Ministry called the closure a violation of international diplomatic conventions, Reuters said.
Additionally, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed the decision was a way to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"The aim of regime change in Damascus prevails over the task of disarming Syria of its chemical weapons and helping millions of Syrians who have suffered from the armed conflict," the ministry said on its website.
Earlier in March, Syria announced they would stop providing consular services in the United States. However, officials from the State Department claimed they were not ending ties with Syria despite the services being affected.
"The United States of America committed a clear violation of the Vienna conventions on diplomatic relations and consular relations by resorting to an arbitrary measure," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said.
It also claimed the U.S. "torpedoed the fundamental legal principle of consular work by involving honorary consulates in political matters".
In response, U.S. officials called the charges of American authorities mistreating Syrian officials as "completely false."
