Report: Leaks confirm Iran’s request that Egypt attend Syria talks

British newspaper, the Guardian confirmed that Iran pressured America in order for Egypt to attend the Syria talks in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Based on leaked emails, the Guardian stated that the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, personally asked Kerry for Egypt to attend the Lausanne talks. When the US secretary of state proposed six-nation talks to “see if a new reasonableness can manifest itself” in Syria, Zarif replied: “Why not Egypt too?”

This provoked fear that Egypt is being courted in order to change its traditional position supporting the West in the region.

Iran agreed to attend the talks only once it had secured seats for Cairo and Baghdad at the discussion table. This is because both countries back the pro-Assad stance of Iran but Egypt is seen as significant because it is the most populous Sunni Arab nation in the Middle East.

The talks, which were proposed by Moscow and Washington, failed to reach a joint strategy with Russia, the Syrian regime’s ally, in order to end the Syrian crisis, which has entered its sixth year.