 |
| Kofi Annan [FILE PHOTO] |
Tehran: Arab League envoy on Syria Kofi Annan has arrived in Tehran following talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Annan was expected to meet with prominent Iranian officials on Tuesday in the latest diplomatic offensive in order to salvage his faltering six-point peace plan to avert all-out civil war in Syria.
Annan’s visit has mired in uncertainty as it was yet unclear that his visit here — immediately after his talks with Syrian President was a pro forma diplomatic gesture or could paved the way for Iran in resolving the Syrian crisis with some new roles.
Iran has been a staunch ally of Assad and has forcefully supported the Syrian president's assertions that the rebellion is a terrorist conspiracy hatched by the West and its Arab allies.
According to media reports Annan is eager to have Tehran on board for any possible peace deal or transitional governing plan that may emerge for Syria. He has said repeatedly that Iran is an important regional power and should be involved in a resolution of the Syrian crisis.
Violence has escalated in recent weeks and human rights monitors have voiced fears that the bloodshed is becoming increasingly sectarian in nature. According to the U.N. the Syrian conflict has cost more than 10,000 lives since it began in March 2011.