Deputy FM: Iran to Offer New Peace Plan on Syria

Tehran is discussing a new initiative with the visiting UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, to provide a comprehensive plan for the peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said.
Tehran will discuss the outline of the plan with Brahimi before presenting it to other parties which could contribute to the resolution of the conflict, said Amir Abdollahian.
“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 Muslim 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.
On Sunday, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani once again underlined Tehran’s full support for peaceful settlement of Syrian crisis, and voiced Iran’s readiness to do its best to pave the ground for materialization of the Syrian nation’s viewpoints towards their fate.
Speaking at a meeting with Brahimi, Shamkhani stressed the need for inclusion of Syrians’ demands in any political initiative meant to end the ongoing conflict in the Arab country.
“The principled position of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has always been underscored, is support for and active cooperation with plans aimed at ending bloodshed and responding to the demands of the Syrian people,” the senior Iranian official pointed out.
He also asked for effective use of potentials in order to establish sustainable peace and security in Syria, lamenting the manipulation of the UN by some destabilizing countries.
Brahimi, for his part, expressed regret over the failure of international efforts to end the violence in Syria, stating that effective mechanisms meant to restore calm and stability in Syria require further attempts and closer cooperation among influential countries.
The top UN official also pointed to Iran’s significant role in the region, calling for Iran’s assistance to the world body to resolve the Syrian conflict through a political process and stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria.
The UN-Arab League envoy, who arrived in Iran on Sunday, is scheduled to hold talks with senior Iranian officials on the latest developments in Syria as well as the upcoming International Geneva II Peace Conference.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.
Tens of hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.
The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.
Tel Aviv, Washington, Ankara and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots to topple President Bashar al-Assad, who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances.