Iran’s FM: Syria Ready to Hold Talks Even with Armed Opposition

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi described dialogue and talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups as the only way to resolve the current crisis in the Muslim country, and said Damascus has expressed its readiness to sit to the negotiating table even with armed groups.

Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem here in Tehran today, Salehi said Iran is trying to prepare the ground for a meeting between the Syrian government and opposition.

“The Syrian government has voiced its preparedness (for talks) and there remains no excuse (for the opposition to avoid talks). Mr. Mualem has announced in Syria that his country’s leaders are prepared to even talk with the armed opposition,” Salehi added.

As regards Iran’s stance on the Syrian crisis, Salehi said Iran believes that “the Syrian crisis has no military solution”, and stressed that “cessation of hostilities in Syria is Iran’s first and foremost demand”.

The Iranian minister said that Iran is in contact with some opposition groups to convince them to participate in talks, and added, “If they insist on spreading bloodshed in the country they should know that they will be held accountable (for continued violence and killings in the country).”

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against the Syrian police, border guards, army and the people being reported across the country.

Thousands of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed after terrorist groups turned protest rallies into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was eventually restored in the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies brought the country into chaos through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots in the hope of increasing unrests in Syria.