Iran Strongly Opposed to US Presence in Syria Talks in Kazakhstan: Velayati
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran’s Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati said the country is completely against participation of US representatives in the upcoming Syrian peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana.
Speaking at a meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Imam Khamis in Tehran on Wednesday, Velayati hailed the Astana talks, due to be held next week, as an outcome of the victories of the Syrian people and government and its allies in the battlefield against foreign-backed terrorists.
However, he said, the talks should not become an opportunity in the political arena for those who supported and equipped terrorists and were defeated in the battlefield.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is strongly opposed to the presence of the United States in the talks in Astana, Kazakhstan,” said Velayati, who is also a top adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.
Diplomatic efforts to end fighting in Syria have gained momentum in recent weeks with the announcement of a ceasefire in the Arab country earlier this month.
The truce, which has been negotiated between Russia, Iran, Turkey, the Damascus government and the Syrian opposition, excludes terrorist groups such as Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
It will be followed by a new round of peace talks between the Syrian government and foreign-sponsored opposition groups in Astana on January 23.
