Iran, Russia urge end to Syria conflict

Iran and Russia have both rejected the use of force as a solution to the crisis in Syria, calling for an end to the bloodshed in the Arab country.
The call came in a joint press conference between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Tehran on Wednesday, according to Press TV.
Zarif said that the situation in Syria does not have a military solution and should be resolved through diplomacy only, adding the political solution must be decided by the Syrian people.
Lavrov said the use of violence in Syria is not acceptable, saying that Iran can play a great role in putting an end to the 3-year-long crisis in Syria.
The Russian foreign minister reiterated the necessity of Iran’s participation in the upcoming Geneva II conference on the ongoing crisis in Syria.
The Geneva II conference is seen as a chance to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis. The UN has set January 22, 2014 as the date for the talks.
Syria has been gripped by a deadly crisis since 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies – especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey – are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.
More than 120,000 people have been killed and a total of 7.8 million others displaced due to the violence.