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Iran has reiterated its support for a political resolution of the Syrian crisis, dismissing Washington’s statements on how Tehran should participate in the Geneva II Conference on Syria.“From the outset of the Syrian crisis, the Islamic Republic of Iran has said that a political solution will be the only option to defuse tension in the country, and has always welcomed strategies that would safeguard the rights of the Syrian people through Syrian-Syrian dialogue,” said Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham.
She reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to help settle the Syria crisis, but drew the line at any suggestion that would disregard the country’s honour.
“However, in order to take part in the Geneva II conference, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not accept any proposal which does not respect its dignity,” She said.
Afkham’s remarks came in reaction to recent comments by US Secretary of State John Kerry who had dictated how Iran can contribute to Geneva II conference.
“Now could they contribute from the sidelines? Are their ways for them, conceivably, to weigh in? Can their mission that is already in Geneva … be there in order to help the process? It may be that there are ways that could happen,” Kerry said.
The Geneva II conference is set to begin on January 22 in Switzerland. American officials had earlier said Iran should not attend the meeting because it had not signed on to the “Geneva I” framework last year.
In December, UN Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said that Iran’s participation in the Syria peace conference had not been decided yet due to the US opposition.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, however, believes that Iran should be invited to the peace conference on Syria. On Friday, Ban’s spokesperson Martin Nesirky said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry are scheduled to talk over Iran’s presence.
“Russia and the US will hold talks on the issue since they are the states which called for holding the conference,” Nesirky said.
Syria, which has been gripped by a foreign-sponsored conflict for nearly three years, blames the United States and its allies for fuelling the flames of the unrest in the country. – Presstv.
Online Reporter