Iran doubts US goals in Syria talks
Iran's deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said Iran will decide whether to participate in the next round of Vienna II talks on Syria after reviewing whether the United States is working behind the scenes to push its own agenda.
In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency Nov. 12, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, said Iran is currently reviewing whether it will attend the Vienna II talks on Syria scheduled for Nov. 14.
Asked why Iran had not yet made a decision on its participation, Abdollahian said, “Some of the players, such as the Americans, in the last week have taken actions that look like they are pushing forward their own ideas and also consulting specific countries.” He added, “If this is accurate, and it becomes clear to us, … then certainly we will [reconsider] our participation in Vienna II.” Abdollahian did not go into detail about the alleged US actions.
After years of lobbying to be involved in the political process, Iran attended the first round of the Vienna II talks, held Oct. 30. The 19 participants issued a nine-point statement on their mutal understandings, but accomplished little.
Abdollahian said Iran is reviewing whether “actions outside the nine-point statement have taken place.” He said, “When we were invited to the Vienna talks, we accepted with the intention of helping solve the crisis in Syria politically, in a correct, transparent and clear manner.”
