After the unanimous passage of UN Resolution 2254, Iran breaks the new international unity over Syria
Iran broke the international unity over Syria on Saturday by restating its support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime and declaring that any rebels deemed “terrorists” should be excluded from peace talks.The 15 members of the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 2254 on Friday, setting out a plan for “political transition” in Syria.The idea is that Mr Assad’s regime will open talks with rebel groups next month with the aim of forming a “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian” government within six months. This new administration would then hold “free and fair elections” to decide the country’s leadership by mid-2017.Russia and America joined forces to support this Resolution, in a rare moment of agreement over how to end Syria’s civil war.But Iran, a key ally of Mr Assad, is not a member of the Security Council and had no opportunity to vote on the Resolution.Within hours of its passage, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian deputy foreign minister, made clear his misgivings and resisted any suggestion of a political transition. “Iran will continue to support” the Syrian regime, he said.As for the proposed peace talks, Mr Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran was in favour of negotiations, but added: “Terrorist groups have no place in Syria's national dialogue.” The deputy minister gave warning there were “severe differences over a list of terrorist groups”.The question of which rebel movements count as legitimate interlocutors – and which are terrorists – remains unresolved. Mr Assad routinely declares that all of his armed opponents are “terrorists”. Iran appears to support his position.But Resolution 2254 strongly implies that negotiations should include every rebel group, except Jabhat al-Nusra, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).The Resolution calls for the “broadest possible spectrum of the opposition, chosen by Syrians” to join the talks. It also commends the “usefulness” of a meeting convened by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh of every rebel force, except Jabhat al-Nusra and Isil.Mr Amir-Abdollahian’s words suggest that Iran would oppose including such a broad definition of rebel groups in the talks.The question of Mr Assad’s future has also been left unresolved. The rebels may jointly insist on a timetable for his departure before they join any negotiations.Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, said the Resolution created "movement" and “momentum” towards peace talks, adding: “We are confident that the opposition will engage with the process, but they will expect that during that first six month period, between now and the beginning of the transitional government, that we will have a clear roadmap during that period for a transition away from the Bashar al-Assad regime.”Mr Hammond told the BBC: “Our challenge over the next two or three months will be to reconcile the different views of the different parties round the table on that issue - and come up with something that everybody can live with.”Another key question is whether Mr Assad will allow his regime to join any peace talks, particularly as he describes all his armed enemies as “terrorists”.Russia’s military intervention in Syria, which began on Sept 30, probably rescued Mr Assad from being overthrown. Mr Hammond said this gave Russia the muscle to ensure that Mr Assad’s regime attends the negotiations. “They [Russia] have the responsibility to bring Assad to the table and to keep Assad at the table and negotiating in good faith,” he said.President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia was willing to escalate its campaign in Syria. "We see how efficiently our pilots and intelligence agents coordinate their efforts with various kinds of forces - the army, navy and aviation, how they use the most modern weapons," he said. "I want to stress that these are by far not all of our capabilities. We have more military means. And we will use them - if need be.”
Iran broke the international unity over Syria on Saturday by restating its support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime and declaring that any rebels deemed “terrorists” should be excluded from peace talks.
The 15 members of the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 2254 on Friday, setting out a plan for “political transition” in Syria.
The idea is that Mr Assad’s regime will open talks with rebel groups next month with the aim of forming a “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian” government within six months. This new administration would then hold “free and fair elections” to decide the country’s leadership by mid-2017.
Russia and America joined forces to support this Resolution, in a rare moment of agreement over how to end Syria’s civil war.
But Iran, a key ally of Mr Assad, is not a member of the Security Council and had no opportunity to vote on the Resolution.
Within hours of its passage, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian deputy foreign minister, made clear his misgivings and resisted any suggestion of a political transition. “Iran will continue to support” the Syrian regime, he said.
As for the proposed peace talks, Mr Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran was in favour of negotiations, but added: “Terrorist groups have no place in Syria's national dialogue.” The deputy minister gave warning there were “severe differences over a list of terrorist groups”.
The question of which rebel movements count as legitimate interlocutors – and which are terrorists – remains unresolved. Mr Assad routinely declares that all of his armed opponents are “terrorists”. Iran appears to support his position.
But Resolution 2254 strongly implies that negotiations should include every rebel group, except Jabhat al-Nusra, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).
The Resolution calls for the “broadest possible spectrum of the opposition, chosen by Syrians” to join the talks. It also commends the “usefulness” of a meeting convened by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh of every rebel force, except Jabhat al-Nusra and Isil.
Mr Amir-Abdollahian’s words suggest that Iran would oppose including such a broad definition of rebel groups in the talks.
The question of Mr Assad’s future has also been left unresolved. The rebels may jointly insist on a timetable for his departure before they join any negotiations.
Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, said the Resolution created "movement" and “momentum” towards peace talks, adding: “We are confident that the opposition will engage with the process, but they will expect that during that first six month period, between now and the beginning of the transitional government, that we will have a clear roadmap during that period for a transition away from the Bashar al-Assad regime.”
Mr Hammond told the BBC: “Our challenge over the next two or three months will be to reconcile the different views of the different parties round the table on that issue - and come up with something that everybody can live with.”
Another key question is whether Mr Assad will allow his regime to join any peace talks, particularly as he describes all his armed enemies as “terrorists”.
Russia’s military intervention in Syria, which began on Sept 30, probably rescued Mr Assad from being overthrown. Mr Hammond said this gave Russia the muscle to ensure that Mr Assad’s regime attends the negotiations. “They [Russia] have the responsibility to bring Assad to the table and to keep Assad at the table and negotiating in good faith,” he said.
President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia was willing to escalate its campaign in Syria. "We see how efficiently our pilots and intelligence agents coordinate their efforts with various kinds of forces - the army, navy and aviation, how they use the most modern weapons," he said. "I want to stress that these are by far not all of our capabilities. We have more military means. And we will use them - if need be.”
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