No irrational preconditions can end Syria crisis: Iran’s Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says a solution to the conflict in Syria should come without any irrational preconditions.

“[To set] irrational preconditions to end the Syria crisis would prolong the crisis,” Zarif said in a meeting with his Croatian counterpart Vesna Pusic in New York on Tuesday local time on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Zarif said working out a fair solution to restore sustainable peace to the Arab country depends on the formation of an “inclusive transitional government” that could include parties to the conflict.

The Croatian official, for her part, touched on the impact of the Syrian refugees’ crisis on Europe, expressing hope that the issue would push European countries to do their best to find a peaceful political solution to the tension in Syria.

The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared up in March 2011, has reportedly claimed about 250,000 lives up until now, according to reports. Certain Western and regional countries see the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as the solution to the conflict in the Arab country.  

Also on Tuesday local time, the Iranian foreign minister met with his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Kotzias, during which the two sides exchanged views on the Syria crisis.

Zarif said uprooting terrorism is the first step to resolving the Syria crisis, adding that the following move should be the formation of a national unity government that could include parties to the crisis.

Fabius welcomes Iran’s proposal on Syria

The Iranian foreign minister also sat down with his French opposite number Laurent Fabius on Monday afternoon local time, during which he called for Tehran-Paris cooperation on the Syria crisis. The proposal was welcomed by the French side.

The two diplomats also conferred on the fight against terrorism in Syria and Iraq as well as the adoption of political solutions to restore peace and stability to war-hit countries.   

Zarif and Fabius also discussed the implementation of Iran’s nuclear agreement, promotion of bilateral economic and trade ties as well as exchange of trade delegations between the two countries.

France is among western allies of the US supporting the militants fighting the Syrian government forces. 

On July 14, Iran and the P5+1 – the US, Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany – finalized the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

On the fringes of the UNGA meeting, Zarif also held talks with his counterparts from Macedonia, Norway and Poland on a host of issues, including bilateral ties as well as regional developments.

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