Brahimi Underlines Iran’s Crucial Role in Region

UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi stressed Tehran’s influential and important role in regional developments, specially in Syria.

During the meeting in Cairo on Thursday, Brahimi said Iran plays a leading role in regional developments, adding that the Islamic Republic’s status and influence can be used in line with regional interests.

He emphasized that all bids and plans should protect the interests of the Syrian people and government.

Brahimi and Salehi called for the continuation of bilateral consultations in the future, and exchanged views on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s roadmap for peace and Iran’s six-point peace plan to settle the unrest in Syria.

On Sunday, President Assad voiced his readiness for dialogue with the opposition and political parties in Syria. The Syrian leader also proposed general elections, adoption of a new constitution as well as a national reconciliation conference.

On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast called on all regional and international parties to support President Assad’s peace initiative.

Speaking to reporters in his weekly press conference here in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said Assad’s three-stage peace initiative falls within the framework of the six-point peace plan that the Islamic Republic has unveiled recently.

He urged all sides to support the plan, and stated, “All countries in the region and influential trans-regional countries should help and support the plan and help end the clashes and replace the status quo in Syria with an alternative political approach as soon as possible.”