The USA is open to Iranian participation in diplomatic meetings Friday in Vienna to discuss the conflict in Syria, the State Department said. Top envoys from the U.S., Russia, Arab and European nations are taking part.
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“Nobody – nobody’s turning a blind eye to, as you put it, their [Iranian] belligerent actions in Syria”, Kirby said on Monday pointing out that the United States still opposes the Iranian position on the Syrian conflict.
Iran, which together with Russian Federation is one of Assad’s staunchest backers, has acknowledged sending military advisers to Syria and Iraq to help beat back the radical Islamic State group, but insists it has deployed no actual fighters on the ground. Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that they only render the military consultations to the Syrian forces.
America had considered inviting Iran to the talks previously, but the invitation was finally given following days of behind-the-scenes negotiation, particularly with Iran’s regional rival, Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, all previous global efforts have done nothing to stop the fighting, and Kerry is trying to unite all sides with influence in the Arab country around a common vision of a peaceful, secular and pluralistic Syria governed with the consent of its people. The statement didn’t mention anything about Iran.
Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Tuesday the number of Iranian forces in Iraq had fluctuated over time.
But David Schenker, with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, believes Iran will not be deterred from supporting Syria’s army.
On Sunday, Syrian President Assad reportedly told a visiting Russian lawmaker that he was ready to participate in any early polls “when necessary” and after the victory on the terrorist groups in Syria.
The aim of the talks, Kirby said, is to make a start on agreeing a framework for a political transition to end the war and pave the way for Assad’s exit.
Members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards hold pictures of Revolutionary Guards Brig. Other sticking points include the length of the transition, and what a new constitution and future elections might look like.
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However, Israel has expressed worries that Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, which has been mired in Syria for years, have been using the fighting in Iran as a pretext to set up bases along the Golan border from which to launch attacks against the Jewish state.
