Speaker: Iran Not to Partake in Geneva II Conference If Israel Invited

Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani underlined the necessity for the settlement of the Syrian crisis through talks, but cautioned that Tehran would not take part in the Geneva II conference on Syria in Switzerland if Israel is invited to the international gathering.

“If Israel takes part in the Geneva II conference, Iran will never participate in it,” Larijani said in an interview with al-Mayadeen news channel on Saturday.

He stressed that Iran believes in the necessity of the political settlement of the Syrian problem, and said violence and crisis in the Muslim country merely serves the interests of the Zionist regime, the US and other western states.

“Iran only believes in the settlement of the Syrian crisis through the ballot box,” Larijani underscored, and stressed, “The Syrian government enjoys more legitimacy than some other regimes (in the region).”

Earlier this month, a prominent Syrian legislator underlined that Iran should take part in the upcoming Geneva II Conference.

“Iran, as a key player in the regional political scenes and a major state both at regional and international levels, should attend the Geneva II Conference to be held in Switzerland in July,” member of the Syrian Parliament Walid Al-Zaabi said.

Al-Zaabi described Iran as true friend of the Syrian people and government.

Late in May, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov underlined that Iran should take part in the upcoming Geneva II Conference.

“This issue is not related to the Syrians alone, as there are a number of foreign players involved at that crisis as well, and therefore, Iran’s presence at that conference is of key importance for us,” Lavrov said.

“In my talks with the US and French foreign ministers John Kerry and Lauran Fabio aimed at solving the ambiguities about the combination of participating countries at Geneva II International Conference on Syria I gained their approval on need for revising their former decision,” he added.

Also in May, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Araqchi announced that Tehran is likely to take part in the Geneva II Conference on Syria if the co-hosts, the US and Russia, invite it to the international gathering.

“If the Geneva II Conference is held and if Iran is invited, we will study our presence with a positive view,” Araqchi said at the time.