TEHRAN, Iran — The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has stated that the breakdown in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia is not affecting his efforts to advance the work of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG). However, there are reasons to believe that Riyadh’s cutting of diplomatic and commercial ties with Tehran will have a negative impact on the ISSG’s ongoing efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a cease-fire and a transitional government in Syria, was passed after serious efforts and consultations on behalf of the United States and its European partners to accommodate Saudi Arabia and Iran enough to sit at the negotiating table. Yet, with the recent negative developments regarding relations between Tehran and Riyadh, it’s unclear how the two countries will pursue negotiations within the framework of the ISSG.
