TEHRAN:
Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Monday during a visit to Tehran
that Iran is backing the latest Russian effort to end his country's more than
three-year conflict.
A
delegation of Syrian dissidents tolerated by President Bashar al-Assad's regime
will travel to Moscow this week for meetings, days after government members
discussed a new peace process there.
A meeting
with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov will include talks on a
political solution and the role of Syria-based opponents.
Muallem,
after meeting his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, said at a joint
news conference: "I heard Mr Zarif support this plan. There is no doubt
Iran will help achieve a political solution."
A plan by
UN envoy to Syria Staffan De Mistura to "freeze" fighting in local
areas, allowing aid deliveries and to lay the groundwork for peace talks, will
also be discussed in Russia.
Iran is
Assad's main regional ally, and Tehran has acknowledged sending military
advisers to assist his forces in their fight against rebels and jihadist
militants.
Assad last
month called De Mistura's plan "worthy of study".
In Tehran,
Zarif did not specifically refer to the Russian initiative, but said: "We
have said from the beginning that we should find a political solution without
destructive foreign intervention.
"All
Syrian parties must be present. I hope these efforts bear fruit."
In Tehran,
Muallem also referred to the battle against the militant Islamic State (IS)
group, noting "there are ongoing contacts" between Iran, Iraq and
Syria "because we all struggle against terrorism".
Iran has
helped Iraq politically and militarily in its fight against IS extremists who
currently control swathes of Iraq and Syria.
Tehran is
not part of the US-led international coalition carrying out air strikes against
IS in both countries.
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