Iran Sees Riyadh Meeting on Syria "Against Vienna Declaration"
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy foreign minister deplored a three-day meeting that Saudi Arabia hosted to unite the groups opposing the Syrian government.
The gathering of the so-called Syrian opposition in Riyadh was held in contravention of the declaration issued after the second round of Vienna talks for settling the crisis in Syria, Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Thursday.
What is shocking, he added, is that certain groups affiliated with the ISIL terrorist group had attended the meeting in Riyadh.
“The terrorists will never be allowed to introduce themselves as moderate opposition and shape the future of Syria and the region,” Amir Abdollahian noted.
Iran rejects the Riyadh meeting, he added, noting that only the United Nations is authorized to identify the Syrian opposition groups or the terrorists when it comes to international negotiations on Syria.
The recent Saudi meeting came amid international efforts to restart peace negotiations with the Syrian government.
Global and regional powers recently met in Vienna and agreed on launching peace talks and a political process to end a prolonged crisis in Syria.
Last week, Amir Abdollahian had cautioned against uncoordinated measures that could torpedo the Vienna political talks on Syria.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including Daesh (ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.
According to the United Nations, more than 250,000 people have been killed and one million wounded during the conflict.