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Iran plays key role in Syria peace talks in Astana: Analyst

Saturday, 21 January 2017 7:07 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 21 January 2017 7:07 PM ]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (2L), his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu (2R) and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) attend a meeting in Moscow on December 20, 2016 for key talks on the conflict in Syria. (Photo by AFP)

The Syria peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana, aimed at finding possible ways to establish sustainable peace in the conflict-stricken state and put an end to its nearly six-year crisis, will start on Monday. The two-day talks, mediated by Iran, Russia, and Turkey, are to involve the representatives of the Syrian government and opposition. The negotiations exclude the Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist groups.

A geopolitical analyst believes Iran plays a “key role” in the Astana talks, adding that Tehran is correct that there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria and eventually it has to be resolved diplomatically.

“Now fortunately Syrian government and the Syrian armed forces are in control of most of Syria again but this is also thanks to military intervention by Russia. I think that diplomacy would have not done this alone but it is of course highly saluted that Russia and even Turkey which supports some rebel groups – I call them all terrorists – that they are along with Iran sitting at the same table to try to resolve the issue,” Peter Koenig told Press TV in an interview on Saturday.

He also stated the “instigator” of the Syrian conflict which is the United States is not present at these negotiations.

Therefore, he said, everyone should be prepared for the ultimate goal of Washington which is regime change in Syria.

The analyst further argued there is “absolutely no justification” of making concessions to this US “regime change” policy, given the fact that President Bashar al-Assad has been democratically elected and is the legitimate head of the Syrian government.

Koenig concluded by saying that the reason why this “foreign-instigated conflict” in Syria is still continuing is that the United States wants to get its way to the pipeline.

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