Iran, UN-Arab envoy want political solution for Syria

Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and UN-Arab League joint special representative to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi Saturday called for finding a political solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis. Brahimi, who arrived in Tehran Saturday, expressed hope that with the help of Syria's neighbours, "we could mobilize all parties to solve the Syrian issue", Xinhua reported. "What is happening in Syria is a humanitarian crisis," said Brahimi, adding that "crimes against Syrian people by all sides should be stopped". Also, Zarif said "conflicts in Syria can only be solved by the Syrian people ... and we can only offer assistance" for political solutions. About Iran's role in the upcoming Geneva II talks on Syria, Brahimi said participation of Iran is "natural and necessary". "If invited to the Geneva II talks, Iran will attend the conference with the aim to find a political solution" to the Syrian problem, said Zarif. On Oct 7, US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the US might agree with Iran's participation in the conference if Tehran backs the "Geneva I Communique," which called for a transitional government in Syria. The US and some western countries have accused Iran of supporting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war and called Iran "part of the problem". Iran has said that it will not accept any precondition to its attending the Geneva II meeting. Being the main regional ally of the Syrian government, Iran has condemned foreign intervention and "terrorists' involvement" in the Syrian conflict.