Syrian FM Arrives in Iranian Capital to Discuss Bilateral Relations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Fayssal Mikdad arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments with senior Iranian officials.
Mikdad was greeted by Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Mohammad Sadeq Fazli, Syrian Ambassador in Tehran Shafiq Dayoub, and other Iranian officials upon his arrival.
The Syrian diplomat will meet with Iranian officials during his visit.
On Tuesday Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Tehran for talks with their Iranian counterpart on the Syria peace process.
Iran, Russia and Turkey are the three guarantors of the “Astana peace process” to end more than 11 years of conflict in the Arab country.
Putin arrived in the Iranian capital for his second foreign visit since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February.
Iran and Russia, as the allies of the Syrian government, as well as Turkey, which sides with the opposition, set up the Astana peace process in January 2017 intending to put an end to the Syrian conflict through the involvement of the Syrian government and the opposition.
The three countries have so far held 18 rounds of talks, initially in the Kazakh capital of Astana (now Nur-Sultan). The last triple summit was held in Nur-Sultan in mid-June.
Participants at the 18th international summit on Syria in the Astana format have reaffirmed their strong commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and announced their firm opposition to Israel’s aggression and atrocities in the war-torn country.
Meanwhile, Turkey has threatened to launch a new offensive in northern Syria and this week’s summit is expected to try to talk him out of the plan, with Iran and Russia seeking to prevent another incursion by Turkey.
Iran has already warned that any Turkish military action in Syria could destabilize the region.
Turkey has launched waves of attacks on Syria since 2016, targeting Kurdish militias and Syrian army forces.
Ankara says a strong presence of the US-backed Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) which it regards as terrorists would embolden the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Turkey's decades-long war with the PKK has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Syria’s government has repeatedly condemned Turkish incursions into its territories. Russia has asked Turkey to “refrain” from launching an attack on Syria. Iran has urged caution.