Iran calls U.S. invitation to Syria talks `first sign of reason’
Iranian officials have said on Wednesday that U.S. openness to Iran participating in Syria talks this week is the Western power’s first sign of reason on the matter. “Reason is the key to a solution in the Syria crisis,’’ they said. The U.S. State department spokesman, John Kirby, said for the first time that Washington […]
Iranian officials have said on Wednesday that U.S. openness to Iran participating in Syria talks this week is the Western power’s first sign of reason on the matter.
“Reason is the key to a solution in the Syria crisis,’’ they said.
The U.S. State department spokesman, John Kirby, said for the first time that Washington was open to Iranian participation in diplomatic meetings on Friday in Vienna to discuss the conflict.
“In looking for different multilateral settings and for the right key partners to be present, we do expect in this case that Iran will be invited to participate,’’ Kirby said.
Report says Iran is a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime has been fighting Islamist militants and other rebel groups in a four-year civil war.
An estimated 250,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and more than half the pre-war population displaced.
The U.S. has lent its support to anti-al-Assad forces.
However, both sides are seeking to control the spread of IS jihadist forces in both Syria and Iraq.
The U.S. and Iran have seen some cautious cooperation in Iraq.
Kirby said that whether Iran attended on Friday was up to Iranian leaders.
The officials noted that the U.S. and its allies must first acknowledge their mistakes in Syria which Iran blames for the country’s humanitarian catastrophe before Iran can become a full partner. (dpa/NAN)