Iran should be part of Syria solution: Annan

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has reiterated that Iran should be part of the solution to the crisis in Syria.

“We believe Iran should be part of the solution to the Syrian crisis,” Annan said on Thursday in his capacity as the chairman of the Elders, which comprises twelve former world leaders.

“We are convinced that Iran can be a key factor for stability and opportunity in the region, thanks to its historical role and capacity to influence others,” said Annan, who wrapped up a three-day visit to Tehran on Wednesday.

In Tehran, the Elders met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Chairman of Iran Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and other senior officials.

“We are very encouraged by the frankness of our conversations with our hosts,” said Annan.

Based in London, the Elders was established in 2007 to “promote peace, justice and human rights.”

During his Tehran visit, Annan was accompanied by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, South African Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu and former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo.

On Wednesday, UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi said there is a “quite large” gap between the rival sides in the ongoing Geneva II conference, from which Iran has been excluded.

The talks are aimed at finding a political solution to the deadly crisis that has gripped Syria since March 2011, but the two sides remain divided on key issues.

The United Nations says more than four million Syrians will be forced out of their homes in 2014 by the escalating conflict in the country.