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| Syria conflict: Iran to attend talks in Vienna | Syria conflict: Iran to attend talks in Vienna |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will attend international talks on the Syrian crisis being held in Vienna this week, a government spokeswoman has said. | Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will attend international talks on the Syrian crisis being held in Vienna this week, a government spokeswoman has said. |
| It will be the first time that Iran - an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - has attended such talks. | It will be the first time that Iran - an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - has attended such talks. |
| Earlier, the US said an invitation to the meeting had been extended to Iran. | Earlier, the US said an invitation to the meeting had been extended to Iran. |
| The talks will include foreign ministers from the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. | The talks will include foreign ministers from the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. |
| The main round of talks is expected to take place on Friday, but diplomats say some preparatory meetings could happen on Thursday evening. | The main round of talks is expected to take place on Friday, but diplomats say some preparatory meetings could happen on Thursday evening. |
| "We have reviewed the invitation, and it was decided that the foreign minister would attend the talks," Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said. | "We have reviewed the invitation, and it was decided that the foreign minister would attend the talks," Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said. |
| Egypt and Iraq also confirmed they had accepted invitations to the meeting. | Egypt and Iraq also confirmed they had accepted invitations to the meeting. |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says that while the US is certainly not welcoming Iran to the Syria talks, it will now tolerate Tehran's involvement. | BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says that while the US is certainly not welcoming Iran to the Syria talks, it will now tolerate Tehran's involvement. |
| Iran's Fars news agency said Mr Zarif had discussed participation in the Vienna talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by phone on Tuesday. | Iran's Fars news agency said Mr Zarif had discussed participation in the Vienna talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by phone on Tuesday. |
| Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that Russia wanted a "widening of the dialogue" on Syria. | Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that Russia wanted a "widening of the dialogue" on Syria. |
| Iran is believed to have spent billions of dollars over the past four years propping up President Assad's government, providing military advisers and subsidising weapons. | Iran is believed to have spent billions of dollars over the past four years propping up President Assad's government, providing military advisers and subsidising weapons. |
| However, Syria's political opposition has warned that Iran's involvement will only complicate the meeting in Vienna. | However, Syria's political opposition has warned that Iran's involvement will only complicate the meeting in Vienna. |
| Both Iran and Russia - another ally of President Assad - have recently stepped up their military role in the Syrian conflict. | Both Iran and Russia - another ally of President Assad - have recently stepped up their military role in the Syrian conflict. |
| Iran has long acknowledged sending military advisers to Syria, but has denied the presence of any ground forces. | Iran has long acknowledged sending military advisers to Syria, but has denied the presence of any ground forces. |
| Despite that, unconfirmed reports earlier this month said that hundreds of Iranian troops had arrived in Syria. | Despite that, unconfirmed reports earlier this month said that hundreds of Iranian troops had arrived in Syria. |
| They were reported to be joining government forces and fighters from the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah, in assaults on rebel positions in northern and central Syria. | They were reported to be joining government forces and fighters from the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah, in assaults on rebel positions in northern and central Syria. |
| Russia began its military intervention in Syria at the end of last month, launching air strikes in support of President Assad. | Russia began its military intervention in Syria at the end of last month, launching air strikes in support of President Assad. |
| Russia and Iran have insisted that Mr Assad must be part of any transition government and that the Syrian people must be allowed to decide who governs them. | Russia and Iran have insisted that Mr Assad must be part of any transition government and that the Syrian people must be allowed to decide who governs them. |
| The US has indicated it could only tolerate President Assad during a short transition period, after which he should step down. | The US has indicated it could only tolerate President Assad during a short transition period, after which he should step down. |
| Why is there a war in Syria? | Why is there a war in Syria? |
| Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. | Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. |
| Who is fighting whom? | Who is fighting whom? |
| Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. | Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. |
| What's the human cost? | What's the human cost? |
| More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. | More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. |
| How has the world reacted? | How has the world reacted? |
| Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. | Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. |
| Iran's growing role in Syria's war | Iran's growing role in Syria's war |
| Syria crisis: Where key countries stand | Syria crisis: Where key countries stand |