Political Approach Sole Solution to Syria Crisis: Iran’s Deputy FM


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian stressed that the Syrian crisis should be resolved through political approach and also respect for the Syrian people’s will.

In a phone conversation with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, Amir Abdollahian underscored the need for settling the Syrian crisis via political channel and based on Syrian-Syrian talks between the government and the opposition groups.

The Iranian official said Iran opposes a list of opposition groups prepared by Saudi Arabia since such a move is in contravention of the declaration issued after the second round of Vienna talks for settling the crisis in Syria.

The Austrian capital of Vienna has played host to two rounds of multilateral talks over the past months for finding a way out of a lingering crisis in Syria.

Amir Abdollahian added list of those opposition groups that believe in political approach ought to be prepared through negotiations between all influential parties and efforts by the United Nations (UN).

De Mistura, for his part, highlighted Iran’s influential role in resolving the crisis in Syria.

The phone conversation came after more than 100 members of opposition groups from inside and outside Syria took part in a two-day meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, which began on December 9.

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.