Tehran, Iran, January 18
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
Due to Iran’s objection to the US attending the upcoming Astana talks about Syria, no invitation to the US has been issued by the three countries that proposed the talks, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Khamkhani said.
There is no reason why the US should partake in efforts to lead the ongoing political initiatives about Syria, Shamkahni said, “Because of (the US) record of incompetence in establishing ceasefire or leading the conflicting sides to negotiations,” ISNA news agency reported January 18.
Meanwhile, the Iranian official said the Islamic Republic will play a key role in the Astana talks since Iran has had “the most prominent role in backing the legal Syrian government in its fight against terrorism.”
Proposed by Russia, Iran, and Turkey, the Astana meeting is going to be held on January 23 and 24 between the Syrian government and opposing forces, excluding terrorist groups, with the hope to find a peaceful way to six years of bloodshed in Syria.
A ceasefire came into effect across Syria in late December after the Syrian government and the opposition agreed to a nationwide deal brokered by Turkey and Russia. The ceasefire was proposed after government forces retook the strategic city of Aleppo from terrorists. The opposition has said it will attend peace talks.