Syrian settlement requires Iran's participation: Russia

By Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan

MOSCOW (AA) - The settlement of Syrian crisis requires the involvement of external powers, including Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"We think all the problems in the Middle East, including Syria, can only be solved on the basis of wide-ranging dialogue," Lavrov said at a news conference with his Croatian counterpart Davor Ivo Stier in Moscow.

He said: "External powers that influence the situation on the ground should participate in the Syrian crisis settlement. This includes also Iran."

Lavrov reminded that Astana talks -- initiated by Turkey, Russia and Iran with an aim to end the Syria conflict -- are also based on the principle of inclusiveness.

His remarks come two days after the U.S. President Donald Trump branded Iran as “the spearhead of global terrorism”.

Trump said Iran’s aggression in the Middle East had helped Bashar al-Assad regime commit “unspeakable crimes” in Syria.