The “smile diplomacy” that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif launched in the Middle East took him on Jan. 12 to Lebanon, the first stop on a regional tour that will also include visits to Jordan and Iraq. According to Al-Monitor’s sources in Tehran, there is also a possibility Zarif will pay a visit to war-torn Syria, which, regardless, will dominate most of his talks, along with issues of mutual interest.
It is almost certain that Iran will not take part in the forthcoming Geneva II talks on Syria, but that does not mean that it is stuck on the sidelines. An Iranian source informed Al-Monitor on Tehran's thinking, asserting, “Whoever is meeting in Geneva knows that Iran is vital for any solution in Syria.” He added, “These countries need our efforts, and we are genuinely keen to do our part to make sure this conference reaches a happy ending. Part of these efforts is this regional tour.”
