Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Tehran’s six-point plan for Syria prepares the ground for a peaceful solution to the crisis in the Arab state.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that Syria's issues can be resolved through diplomatic means and Iran’s six-point plan has been proposed on this basis,” Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview with the state-run Voice of Russia on Wednesday.

He went on to say that based on Iran’s proposed peace plan, a transitional government would be formed in Syria with Bashar al-Assad remaining in power as the country’s legitimate president until an election is held.

“In order to reach this purpose (holding an election in Syria), violence must be stopped and we believe that the United Nations can play a key role in restoring peace to Syria,” Amir-Abdollahian noted.


“The date for the election will be determined during negotiations between the Syrian government and those opposition groups which have not taken part in terrorist activities.”

On December 16, Iran unveiled the details of a six-point plan to resolve the ongoing crisis in Syria, which calls for an immediate end to all violent and armed acts.

The plan calls for the sending of humanitarian aid to Syrians following the end of all conflicts, the lifting of all economic sanctions imposed against the country, and the facilitation of the return of displaced Syrians to their homes.

It also urges talks between the Syrian government and representatives of all Syrian groups regardless of their political and social tendencies to form a national reconciliation committee.

Amir-Abdollahian further pointed out that the key point in Iran’s plan for solving the Syrian crisis is the determination of the fate of the Arab state by the Syrians themselves without any other country interfering in this matter.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. Many people, including a large number of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of militants are foreign nationals.
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