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US may only attend talks as ‘observer’, insists Iran

January 18, 2017 at 5:13 pm

Image of the Syrian ceasefire agreement meeting on 20th December 2016 [Kremlin Press Center/Anadolu]

Iran is opposed to US involvement in Syrian peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan despite Russian insistence that extending an invitation to the US would be the “right thing” to do.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif voiced his opposition to Washington’s participation in the talks planned to be held in Kazakhstan next week, telling Iranian Tasnim news agency on Tuesday that “we are opposed to US presence”.

Commenting also on US participation, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said: “Given Iran’s opposition to the US partnership in Astana conference, no joint invitation has been extended to the US by [Iran, Russia and Turkey] who initiated the meeting,” reported state-owned Fars News Agency today.

While giving his reason for Iran’s hard stance towards the US, Shamkhani commented that given the US’ record of non-commitment and inefficiency in the establishment of a ceasefire and holding talks between the two sides of the war in Syria, there is no reason for Washington’s partnership in managing and leading the current political initiatives for resolution of the Syrian crisis.

“The [US’s] role in the Astana conference is completely rejected.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy commander did however comment on the capacity under which the US may be involved in the peace talks, saying that Washington may be invited as an observer state, which US officials may view as a slap to the face.

A lot has been made of the thawing relationship between the incoming US President Donald Trump and President Putin. To some observers, it was as though the Astana talks were being delayed until Trump assumed office so his team could take part in the talks.

Iran’s insistence may be viewed by Trump, who has been extremely vocal against Iran, as an attempt to humiliate his administration.