Iran Rejects Speculation on Details of Initiative to End Syria Crisis


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy foreign minister dismissed speculation about details of an updated plan prepared by Tehran for peace in Syria, which has been grappling with foreign-backed militancy for over four years.

In a Wednesday interview with Al-Mayadeen TV channel, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian rejected reports on the content of the Iranian plan for settling the crisis in Syria.

He said the Iranian updated initiative will be submitted to the United Nations secretary general after “full consultation” between Tehran and Damascus.

Last year, Iran proposed a four-part plan for finding a political solution to the ongoing crisis in Syria, which was welcomed by the UN.

Amir Abdollahian recently said Iran's initiative, proposed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, has been updated.

Describing the 4-point political initiative as “one of the most effectual and serious plans on the agenda of the United Nations and international players”, the Iranian diplomat announced that the plan is based upon the realities on the ground.

Afterwards, the Al-Mayadeen TV claimed that the four-point initiative calls for an immediate cease-fire in Syria, formation of a national unity government, amending the Arab country’s constitution in what reassures ethnic and religious minorities and holding elections under the supervision of international observers.

It comes as Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to hold talks with Iranian officials on efforts to end the civil war in the Arab country.

Iranian officials have since held numerous diplomatic talks with various regional players including Syria and Russia to end the war that began in March 2011. Some 250,000 people have been killed and 8 million homeless during the four-year crisis.