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| Disarray as Iran invited to Syria peace talks | Disarray as Iran invited to Syria peace talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ISTANBUL — The prospects for a Syrian peace conference due to be held in Geneva this week were thrown into doubt Monday after the United Nations unexpectedly invited Iran to attend, prompting a threat from the Syrian opposition to withdraw. | |
| United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York Sunday evening that Iran had been invited after it had agreed to accept that the premise of the peace talks is to pave the way for a transitional authority in Syria that would take power away from President Bashar al-Assad. | United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York Sunday evening that Iran had been invited after it had agreed to accept that the premise of the peace talks is to pave the way for a transitional authority in Syria that would take power away from President Bashar al-Assad. |
| The Syrian Opposition Coalition, which had only voted to attend the conference the day before, immediately announced it was suspending its decision to attend “unless Ban Ki-Moon retracts Iran’s invitation,” according to a tweet from its account. | The Syrian Opposition Coalition, which had only voted to attend the conference the day before, immediately announced it was suspending its decision to attend “unless Ban Ki-Moon retracts Iran’s invitation,” according to a tweet from its account. |
| The United States, which also has opposed Iran’s attendance, seemed to have been caught off guard by the U.N invitation. | The United States, which also has opposed Iran’s attendance, seemed to have been caught off guard by the U.N invitation. |
| “If Iran does not fully and publicly accept the Geneva communiqué, the invitation must be rescinded,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. | “If Iran does not fully and publicly accept the Geneva communiqué, the invitation must be rescinded,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. |
| Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission in Iran’s parliament, told the parliament’s news agency that “Iran will take part in this conference without accepting Geneva 1’s framework.” | Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission in Iran’s parliament, told the parliament’s news agency that “Iran will take part in this conference without accepting Geneva 1’s framework.” |
| Boroujerdi said the invitation means all council members, including the U.S., approved Iran’s presence. | Boroujerdi said the invitation means all council members, including the U.S., approved Iran’s presence. |
| “It is expected that Iran will participate in the talks actively and on a high level and without accepting any pre-condition to help Syrian government and people get out of this imposed crisis,” Boroujerdi said. | “It is expected that Iran will participate in the talks actively and on a high level and without accepting any pre-condition to help Syrian government and people get out of this imposed crisis,” Boroujerdi said. |
| It is unclear whether the long-awaited conference, which has been planned for months amid intensive international diplomacy, could go ahead without the participation of the opposition. Diplomats have said there has been no discussion of how to proceed should the opposition boycott an event regarded as the only hope for a settlement to Syria’s devastating civil war. | It is unclear whether the long-awaited conference, which has been planned for months amid intensive international diplomacy, could go ahead without the participation of the opposition. Diplomats have said there has been no discussion of how to proceed should the opposition boycott an event regarded as the only hope for a settlement to Syria’s devastating civil war. |
| The twist plunged the fractious opposition coalition back into disarray only hours after it had reached a decision to attend the talks. | The twist plunged the fractious opposition coalition back into disarray only hours after it had reached a decision to attend the talks. |
| Members huddled in meetings overnight to debate the new twist as diplomats from countries around the world bombarded them with telephone calls urging them not to withdraw, coalition members said. | Members huddled in meetings overnight to debate the new twist as diplomats from countries around the world bombarded them with telephone calls urging them not to withdraw, coalition members said. |
| The decision to attend had been approved by fewer than half of the coalition’s members, and the unexpected inclusion of Iran at the conference put those who had supported attending the conference “in a very bad position,” said coalition member Abdulrahman Haj, who was among those who voted to go. “They are very weak now.” | The decision to attend had been approved by fewer than half of the coalition’s members, and the unexpected inclusion of Iran at the conference put those who had supported attending the conference “in a very bad position,” said coalition member Abdulrahman Haj, who was among those who voted to go. “They are very weak now.” |
| “Iran is the biggest supporter of the regime, not only with weapons and money but also fighters,” he added, referring to Iran’s support of the thousands of Shiite militiamen from Lebanon and Iraq as well as Iran who are fighting on behalf of Assad. | “Iran is the biggest supporter of the regime, not only with weapons and money but also fighters,” he added, referring to Iran’s support of the thousands of Shiite militiamen from Lebanon and Iraq as well as Iran who are fighting on behalf of Assad. |
| The United States also had objected to including Iran in the peace talks because of Iran’s role as one of Assad’s most important backers and its refusal to accept that the purpose of the conference is to replace his regime. | The United States also had objected to including Iran in the peace talks because of Iran’s role as one of Assad’s most important backers and its refusal to accept that the purpose of the conference is to replace his regime. |
| In New York, Ban stressed that Tehran had only been invited after Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had agreed to the terms of the conference, which are laid out in the so-called Geneva 1 declaration negotiated by Russia and America in 2012. | In New York, Ban stressed that Tehran had only been invited after Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had agreed to the terms of the conference, which are laid out in the so-called Geneva 1 declaration negotiated by Russia and America in 2012. |
| “Foreign Minister Zarif and I agree that the goal of the negotiations is to establish, by mutual consent, a transitional governing body with full executive powers,” Ban said. | “Foreign Minister Zarif and I agree that the goal of the negotiations is to establish, by mutual consent, a transitional governing body with full executive powers,” Ban said. |
| Ban also noted that Iran will not be participating in the actual peace talks, which will take place on Friday in Geneva between representatives of the regime and the opposition, mediated by the United Nations. It will attend the opening conference in Montreux on Wednesday, at which representatives of more than 30 nations will gather to express support for a negotiated settlement to Syria’s bloody civil war. | Ban also noted that Iran will not be participating in the actual peace talks, which will take place on Friday in Geneva between representatives of the regime and the opposition, mediated by the United Nations. It will attend the opening conference in Montreux on Wednesday, at which representatives of more than 30 nations will gather to express support for a negotiated settlement to Syria’s bloody civil war. |
| The Geneva 1 agreement was vague on the fate of Assad, leaving it unclear whether the talks are intended to remove Assad altogether or simply weaken his authority. Though the United States has repeatedly stressed that Assad must leave office, Russia has continued staunchly to support him. The opposition fears that if Iran also attends the conference, it will serve only to reinforce his grip on power. | The Geneva 1 agreement was vague on the fate of Assad, leaving it unclear whether the talks are intended to remove Assad altogether or simply weaken his authority. Though the United States has repeatedly stressed that Assad must leave office, Russia has continued staunchly to support him. The opposition fears that if Iran also attends the conference, it will serve only to reinforce his grip on power. |
| Ahmed Ramadan contributed from Beirut. | Ahmed Ramadan contributed from Beirut. |