Syrian Deputy FM due in Tehran for talks

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad is to pay a visit to Iran to discuss the latest developments in Syria with senior Iranian officials.

According to Press TV, Mekdad is scheduled to arrive in Tehran on Monday for a two-day visit and will meet with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

The Syrian diplomat’s visit to Tehran comes as a new round of UN-mediated peace talks between the Syrian government and foreign-backed opposition groups is expected to start on March 14. Negotiations are expected to end by March 24.

The development comes following remarks by Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Saturday who said his country will take part in peace talks with no preconditions and will not accept any preconditions by other negotiating parties.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Muallem said it is only for Syrians to decide their country’s fate, including the issue of presidency, which Damascus considers as a “red line,” noting that no foreign power could decide what is going to happen to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

Damascus wants the negotiations to result in the establishment of a "unity government" followed by appointment of a committee to either write a new constitution or make changes to the current one.

Iran likewise says the decision on Assad’s fate is up to the Syrian people and supports the Syrian army and its allies in their fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

SS