Iran: 'No agreement' in key issues before Syria talks
- 8 years ago
There “seems to be no agreement” on two key issues just hours before the latest international conference on Syria is held Friday in New York, Iran’s foreign minister said.
Mohammad Javad Zarif told The Associated Press on Thursday that his country has seen “no lists we can agree upon” of Syrian opposition groups that should be included in peace negotiations set to begin by Jan. 1, or of Syrian groups that should be considered terrorist organizations instead.
“Card-carrying members of al-Qaeda do not satisfy the conditions that we set for members of the opposition,” Zarif told reporters, ruling out any affiliates of the extremist group.
“The opposition should be serious, and it should be inclusive.”
Zarif also said “we still don’t know” if there will be any concrete progress in the talks that are aimed at bringing an end to Syria’s conflict.
Iran, a top ally of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad, will attend.
Mohammad Javad Zarif told The Associated Press on Thursday that his country has seen “no lists we can agree upon” of Syrian opposition groups that should be included in peace negotiations set to begin by Jan. 1, or of Syrian groups that should be considered terrorist organizations instead.
“Card-carrying members of al-Qaeda do not satisfy the conditions that we set for members of the opposition,” Zarif told reporters, ruling out any affiliates of the extremist group.
“The opposition should be serious, and it should be inclusive.”
Zarif also said “we still don’t know” if there will be any concrete progress in the talks that are aimed at bringing an end to Syria’s conflict.
Iran, a top ally of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad, will attend.