Tehran to host inter-Syria dialogue 'next week': report

13 November 2012 - 20:25 By Sapa-AFP
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Iranian deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. File photo
Iranian deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. File photo

Iran will bring parties to the Syrian conflict to Tehran next week to participate in a "national dialogue," Iranian media reported, quoting a senior official.

The meeting will focus on promoting diplomacy and ending the violence in Syria, Iranian deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told the Arabic-language Alalam channel.

He said the meeting would take place "next week" but did not give an exact date.

"Representatives of the Syrian government will hold talks with representatives from tribes, political parties, (political) minorities and the opposition," he said, without elaborating.

Armed Syrian opposition groups reject any Iranian involvement in finding a solution to the conflict in Syria, reflecting the view the US and some Western and Arab countries hold that Tehran is discredited by its unwavering support for the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Iran, which in turn accuses Western and Arab countries of arming the rebels fighting Assad's forces, has said repeatedly that it is in contact with Syrian opposition groups, without identifying which ones.

Russia and Iran advocate a political solution and dialogue between the government and opposition groups to end the Syrian crisis.

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