Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League joint special envoy on Syria, has said that Iran can play a "positive" role in resolving the crisis engulfing Syria, MNA reported.
"My presence here proves that I believe Iran can play a positive role and should therefore be a part of the solution (to) the Syrian crisis," Annan stated during a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran on Tuesday, AP reported.
He also said that he has "received encouragement and cooperation" from the Iranian government.
Asked to provide details about the agreement on the "new approach" reached during his meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Monday, Annan said that Assad had proposed "building an approach from the ground up in some of the districts where we have extreme violence to try and contain the violence in those districts, and, step by step, build up and end the violence across the country," Reuters reported.
"The details (have) to be worked out with the opposition. We have to discuss this with them. That's why I can't go into details, but it relates to end(ing) the violence," he noted.
"If we don't make a real effort to resolve this issue peacefully and it were to get out of hand and spread in the region, it can lead to consequences that none of us could imagine," Annan added.
Exacerbation of Syria crisis would benefit no one: Salehi
During the press conference, Salehi stated, "The Syrian government has taken a number of steps toward reforms, but the unwise interference of others has caused the situation in the country to remain critical despite the fact that Mr. Bashar al-Assad has taken constructive measures.
"Political issues sometimes get difficult and complicated, and our region has witnessed complex developments. And we all should work hand in hand and prevent the situation from deteriorating.
"The exacerbation of the regional situation would definitely be in no one's interests."
Salehi added, "The Syrian government, led by Mr. Bashar al-Assad, has made promises and made commitments to taking the measures necessary to fulfill legitimate public demands."
The Syrian people have the right to free elections, democracy, and freedom, the Iranian foreign minister stated.
Salehi also said, "We hope that Mr. Annan will take a serious step toward peace and security so that regional people can be freed from this artificial crisis."
He went on to say that the fact that Annan is making efforts to implement his six-point plan impartially has angered certain countries.
Annan has put forward a plan for ending the crisis in Syria, which calls for a UN-supervised ceasefire by all parties, the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Salehi noted that certain countries do not want to see Annan's plan come to fruition, adding, "Mr. Annan has repeatedly stated that Iran is part of the Syrian solution, and we hope that certain countries that are not happy with the current positive trend will be part of the solution and not part of the problem."