Iran to offer 4-point plan to resolve Syria crisis

Rasa - A senior Iranian foreign ministry officials says the Islamic Republic has developed a four-point plan to facilitate the resolution of the lingering crisis in Syria.

News ID: 701

Date: 17 March 2014 - 16:50

Rasa News Agency reports - Tehran will discuss the outline of the plan with visiting UN-Arab League Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi before presenting it to other concerned parties, confident that it would contribute to the resolution of the conflict, said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Brahimi arrived in Tehran on Sunday to discuss the crisis in Syria with senior Iranian officials.

Immediately after his arrival, Brahimi sat down with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, and is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later on Monday.

“The dimensions of this plan will not be made public for now, and we will pursue the matter in diplomatic negotiations and consultations,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

The “realities” of a political settlement of the Syria crisis are addressed in the plan which also highlights the territorial integrity and independence of the Arab country as well as its people’s right to self-determination in a democratic election.

The Iranian official further reiterated Tehran’s support for a political solution to the deadly conflict in Syria.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran actively pursues a political settlement of the Syria crisis as we believe the Syria conflict can only be resolved politically and that the UN can play an effective role [in that regard],” he said.

Amir-Abdollahian dismissed any military solution to the crisis in the country, saying that the time is up for terrorists and Takfiri extremists in Syria.

Syria has been the scene of deadly violence since March 2011. The Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- have been supporting the militants operating inside Syria.