Iran should help resolve crisis in Syria: UN

A top United Nations official says Iran must help resolve the crisis in Syria, stressing that Tehran plays a pivotal and undeniable role in peace talks about the Middle Eastern country.

The UN and international community require constructive talks to settle the crisis in Syria, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Jan Eliasson told IRNA on Saturday.

He added that the UN is well aware of Iran’s important and sensitive role in settling the Syrian crisis and other crises across the world.

He emphasized that the UN would try to secure Iran’s presence in future negotiations over Syria and said Tehran is capable of using its influence and potential to resolve the ongoing crisis in the Arab country.

Eliasson expressed hope that Tehran and international bodies would further improve their cooperation to settle regional and international crises.

In a press briefing on Friday, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad expressed deep regret over a lack of progress in the second round of talks between the Syrian government and the Western-backed opposition in Geneva.

He made the remarks on the final day of the second round of the peace talks in Geneva, which were designed to contain the bloody crisis that has plagued Syria since March 2011.

The negotiations, however, hit a deadlock due to sharp differences between the two sides.