Syria talks unlikely to yield result without Iran: Velayati

A top aide to Leader of Islamic Ummah Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the Geneva II talks on the crisis in Syria are unlikely to yield “favorable” results without the Islamic Republic.

Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Imam Khamenei on international affairs, said on Sunday that the Geneva II talks would fail to achieve “favorable” results because of “Iran’s absence” and the “illegitimate demands” of Syria’s foreign-backed opposition.

The peace conference will likely end without “tangible” and “positive” results as the meeting lacks any solid ground and on the other hand the Syrian opposition consists of mercenaries and supporters of terrorism.

The long-awaited Geneva II conference is aimed at finding a solution to end nearly three years of foreign-sponsored turmoil in Syria. The peace talks have been underway in Switzerland since January 22

On January 19, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon invited Iran to take part in the meeting. However, he took the invitation back less than 24 hours later after it provoked strong objection from the US, Saudi Arabia and the so-called Syrian National Council (SNC).

The Iranian official further emphasized that the Syrian nation should decide its own fate independent of “illegitimate” interference.

The so-called Syrian opposition and its Western supporters insist that President Bashar al-Assad must step down and a transitional government be formed in Syria, but Damascus has rejected the demand, arguing that the foreign-backed coalition does not represent the Syrian opposition.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. Reports indicate that the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside the country.