Iran's FM Renews Call for Negotiated Solution to Syrian Crisis

"The Syrian conflict must be resolved through negotiations. Moreover, sabotage and terror as well as slaughter of people must be brought to an end," Salehi said on Tuesday.

"We call on those Syrian opposition groups that are opposed to terrorist attacks and bloodshed to travel to Tehran and engage in negotiations with Syrian authorities," he told al-Alam TV network.

The Iranian foreign minister noted that numerous efforts are underway by certain Western states to further complicate the situation in Syria.

Earlier this month, Salehi had announced Tehran's readiness to hold meetings with the Syrian dissidents in a move to facilitate talks between the opposing parties in the Muslim country.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to have meetings with Syrian dissidents to invite them to Iran in a bid to prepare and facilitate the ground for talks between the Syrian dissidents and government," Salehi told reporters at the time.

Stressing the importance of finding a Syrian solution to the crisis in the Arab country, he said no foreign prescription and government should be imposed on the Syrians.

Tehran has repeatedly offered to help resolve the crisis, but this has been opposed by the US and its allies which support rebel and terrorist groups in the country. At the insistence of the US, Iran was left off the guest list of Annan's multinational "action group" meeting on Syria in Geneva late last month, where the participating nations approved a communiqué outlining broad parameters for a "transitional" government.

Also in July, UN-Arab League Special Envoy on Syria Kofi Annan was in Tehran in a visit which signaled Iran's key role in resolving the Syrian crisis. The former UN chief tried to rescue his peace plan for Syria by seeking help from Iran.

Prior to his Tehran visit, Annan said despite Washington's harsh rhetoric, Iran is a main actor in the Syrian issue that "cannot be ignored".

Annan told France's Le Monde daily that Iran should be involved in discussions.

"Russia wields influence but I am not sure that the events will be determined by Russia alone.... Iran is an actor. It has to be part of the solution. It has influence and we cannot ignore it."

Analysts believe that Annan's visit may signal some new role for Iran in resolving the Syrian crisis.

In a statement, Annan said he had come to Iran "to see how we can work together to help settle the situation in Syria".
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