Iran diminishes U.S. role in Astana talks
By Kamila Aliyeva
Iranian and Syrian Deputy Foreign Ministers discussed the latest events in Syria in the context of the upcoming talks in Astana during a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday.
Jaberi Hossein Ansari and Faisal Mekdad met in the framework of the meetings of the joint Iranian-Syrian political committee, IRNA reported.
Negotiations will be held in Astana in order to prepare the ground for a political resolution of the Syrian crisis.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister of Syria, Imad Khamis said that Iran and Syria will act like a united front against terrorism, and other countries should follow them.
Khamis made these remarks at a press conference with the First Vice President of Iran Ishaq Jahangir in the cultural center "Saad Abad".
Syrian Prime Minister stressed the need to continue consultations between the Syrian and Iranian officials. Iranian president also claimed that he will continue to support Syrian people and government in the fight against terrorists.
Due to Iran's objections the U.S. were not invited to a meeting in Astana on Syria, said the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani.
There is no reason to invite the U.S. to the negotiation table, said Shamkhani, adding that the United States did not participate in the establishment of a ceasefire and reconciliation of the main parties in this conflict, ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, said on Tuesday that he believed it was right to invite U.S. representatives to the meeting.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that Turkey and Russia had decided to invite the United States to the Astana discussions.
Earlier it was reported that the U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration would consider an invitation for peace talks in Astana, when it officially comes, but the country will not participate in any talks on Syria unless the U.S. has a clear vision on the resolution of Syrian crisis.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, talking separately on Tuesday, called liberation of Aleppo and the establishment of the ceasefire important steps in restoring peace and stability in Syria. He also expressed his hope that the forthcoming meeting in Astana will pave the way for the start of real negotiations on Syrian conflict and will lead to the good results.
The main purpose of all friends of Syria is to establish peace and stability as a result of which the Syrian people will decide about their future," added Rouhani.
The meeting backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey will be held in the Kazakh capital on 23 January between the Syrian government and the opposition forces, except for terrorist groups.
The ceasefire agreement came into force in Syria in late December after the Syrian government and the opposition agreed with the mediation of Turkey and Russia. The ceasefire agreement was proposed after the liberation of the strategic city of Aleppo from the terrorists by government forces. The opposition ensured that they will participate in the peace talks in Astana.
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