Iranian Diplomat Warns against Terrorists’ Presence in Syria Peace Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian warned against the participation of representatives of foreign-backed terrorist groups in the UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva under the guise of opposition parties.
In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Amir Abdollahian and the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, exchanged views about the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations between President Bashar Assad’s government and its opponents.
Vigilance is needed to prevent terrorists from entering the talks “with a new face” and using the negotiating table as a tool, the Iranian diplomat noted.
“Terrorism has no place in the future of Syria and only the people of the country will decide (their own destiny),” he added.
De Mistura, for his part, emphasized that the agenda of the Geneva talks revolves around political process, ceasefire and the fight against terrorism in Syria.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including Daesh, currently controlling parts of it.
According to the United Nations, more than 220,000 people have been killed and one million wounded during the conflict.
In the meantime, Iran has remained a close ally of Syria and supports its legitimate government in the face of foreign-backed militancy.
Earlier on June 2, 2015, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hailed the resistance of the Syrian government and people against foreign-backed terrorist groups in the Arab country, saying that Tehran is determined to side with Damascus to the end of the crisis.
