Iranian Speaker’s Advisor: Terrorists Not Qualified to Take Part on Syria Talks

“A clear redline should be drawn between the terrorist and dissident groups in Syria and the terrorists shouldn’t be given a seat in negotiations with the (Syrian) government,” Amir Abdollahian said in a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Jagarian on Thursday.

He also lauded the Syrian government’s efforts to fight against terrorism and focus on the political solution, and underlined the importance of cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in helping Damascus.

In relevant remarks in January, Iranian Supreme Leader’s top aide Ali Akbar Velayati underlined the importance of talks between the Syrian government and its allies before the start of the peace talks, and said the terrorist groups are not allowed to take part in the negotiations on the future of Syria.

“The dissidents who have been admitted to the negotiations can participate in the talks with the Syrian government; of course, the ISIL and al-Nusra are still considered as terrorist groups and in no way entitled to take part in these negotiations,” Velayati told reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem in Tehran.

He said that the negotiations will be held between the Syrian government and the dissident groups who have agreed to give up fight in Astana of Kazakhstan, and added, “The Syrian government will naturally have the necessary consultations with its strategic friends, meaning Iran and Russia, before these talks.”