Iran to Add Iraq, Venezuela to “Contact Group” on Syria

Iran on Tuesday hailed Egypt’s aims in putting together a new “contact group” on the Syrian crisis, but said it wanted to expand the initiative to include Iraq and Venezuela.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian was quoted on his ministry website after attending the first meeting of the group in Cairo on Monday that Egypt’s offer to host another session at ministerial level “is a positive step.”

According to AFP, Abdullahian welcomed Egypt’s stated goal of trying to stop Syria’s bloodshed through “consensus” in the group, based on policies to bring about a ceasefire, to maintain Syrian sovereignty and to reject any foreign intervention.

“That was a balanced solution,” the agency quoted the Iranian official as saying.

The contact group, created by Egypt’s new President Mohammad Mursi, comprises Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran.