Iranian president stresses strong support for continued ceasefire in Syria

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined the necessity for continued ceasefire in Syria, saying that the peace talks to resolve the crisis in the war-hit country should be pursued seriously.

"First, we should endeavor to maintain the ceasefire and don’t allow the fire of war to flare up again," President Rouhani said in a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday.

He underscored the need for holding real and serious talks in Astana to resolve the crisis in Syria, and said the new round of Syria talks in Kazakhstan is different because the previous rounds of negotiations gathered only expatriate Syrian dissidents, but now representatives of the Syrian government and the militant groups which have accepted the ceasefire are due to participate in the Astana talks.

Stressing Iran, Russia and Turkey's intensified efforts on the threshold of Astana talks, President Rouhani said, "No one is allowed to decide for the Syrian people on who, how and which government should rule Syria in future, and an atmosphere of peace and stability as well as the conditions for holding elections should be prepared."

"Everyone should accept whatever the Syrian people vote for," he emphasized.  

Negotiations to reach a resolution to the six-year war in Syria are due to begin in Kazakhstan's capital Astana later this month between the Syrian government and the militant oppositions.

Following last month's Syria cease-fire deal, the Astana meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts by Iran, Russia and Turkey to promote a political solution in war-torn Syria.

EA