Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reiterated that only national dialogue will end the crisis in Syria, which is gripped by an ongoing conflict.

In a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem in Tehran on Saturday, Ahmadinejad called for an immediate cessation of the violence and foreign intervention in the crisis-hit Arab state, and urged the Syrian government and opposition groups to reach an agreement through holding negotiations.

He described talks as a logical solution to the Syrian crisis, and expressed hope that parties involved in the predicament would soon engage in dialogue.

Those who turn to arms and violence and at the same time speak of democracy must be disarmed, Ahmadinejad pointed out.

The Iranian president voiced optimism that security and stability would soon be established in Syria so that the Syrian nation would initiate reconstruction and get back to their normal lives.

Muallem also discussed the latest developments in Syria with Ahmadinejad. He stated that Syria is facing an international conspiracy, engineered by the United States, and Israel is taking full advantage of this scheme.

The Syria crisis began in mid-March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

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