Iran will take part in the next Syria peace talks to “assist in finding a political solution for the Syrian crisis”, said Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, on Monday November 9.
The Iranian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, has already participated for the first time in peace talks with the U.S., Russia, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Nations and others to reach a resolution regarding the situation in Syria.
The next meeting is to take place on November 12 in Vienna.
Amir Abdollahian said the parties have to be “realistic” in these talks, adding that: “Regarding Syria, its people must determine their country’s future in a democratic process; currently the people and the army are fighting terrorism.”
“We are committed to two principles: fighting terrorism as an international duty and the right of the Syrian people to determine their future,” the Iranian diplomat said; “In these two areas, we can act as facilitators.”
The last meeting ended with serious clashes between the Iranian and Saudi representatives.
Iran and Russia have supported the Bashar Assad government through more than four years of fighting in Syria, while the Saudi government wants Assad removed.