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In a face-off over Syria talks, the U.S. and U.N. disagree over Iran’s role U.N. backs down in standoff over Iran, opening way to Syria talks
(35 minutes later)
Breaking news: The U.N. has withdrawn its invitation to Iran to attend the peace talks. Check back for more updates. ISTANBUL — The United Nations on Monday revoked an invitation to Iran to attend a crucial peace conference on Syria in Switzerland, culminating a day of chaotic international diplomacy during which the United States objected to Iran’s inclusion and the Syrian opposition threatened to boycott.
ISTANBUL — The Obama administration scrambled Monday to salvage peace talks on the Syrian civil war after the United Nations overrode objections from the United States and the Syrian political opposition and issued an unexpected invitation to Iran, one of Syria’s main patrons. Under intense American pressure, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon rescinded the invitation to Iran, issued only 24 hours earlier, late on Monday, citing Iran’s failure to endorse the terms under which the conference was being held.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry was lobbying United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to rescind the invitation issued overnight or risk upending the already precarious talks. The much-delayed peace conference is to begin Wednesday with foreign ministers of more than 30 nations and continue later in the week with negotiators for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and an array of armed and unarmed opposition groups. According to Ban’s spokesman, Martin Nevirsky, the secretary general had received reassurances from Iranian officials that they did accept the terms, spelled out in what is known as the Geneva 1 communique agreed on by Russia and the United States in 2012. But Iranian statements on Monday indicated that Iran did not accept the terms, which specify that the purpose of the conference is to negotiate a transition of power in Syria.
Iran is prolonging the war and undermining chances for peace, and should not be allowed to sit at the peace table with diplomats from countries that are legitimately trying to end the war, a senior U.S. official close to the negotiations argued Monday. U.N. officials have long argued that Iran is a critical player in the Syrian conflict and that any serious attempt to end the war must include representatives from Tehran. “In a series of meetings and telephone conversations, senior Iranian officials assured the Secretary-General that Iran understood and supported the basis and goal of the Conference, including the Geneva Communiqué,” Nevirsky said in a statement read to reporters in New York. “The Secretary-General is deeply disappointed by Iranian public statements today that are not at all consistent with that stated commitment.”
The United States opposes Iranian participation even in the initial foreign ministers’ meeting unless it endorses ground rules set in 2012. Those terms state that the goal of peace talks is a transitional government for Syria, established by mutual consent of the current Assad government and political opponents. The announcement followed a day of intense diplomacy during which U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry personally lobbied Ban to rescind the invite, and the Syrian opposition warned that it would not attend if Iran was there, putting in jeopardy an event that has taken eight months of negotiations to bring to fruition.
The much-delayed peace conference will now go ahead on Wednesday with foreign ministers of more than 30 nations and continue later in the week with talks between negotiators for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and representatives of the Syrian opposition.
Iran is prolonging the war and undermining chances for peace, and should not be allowed to sit at the peace table with diplomats from countries that are legitimately trying to end the war, a senior U.S. official close to the negotiations argued earlier Monday.
The United States opposes Iranian participation even in the initial foreign ministers’ meeting unless it endorses ground rules set in 2012. Those terms state that the goal of peace talks is a transitional government in Syria, established by mutual consent of the Assad government and political opponents.
Iran has repeatedly refused to meet those terms, the U.S. official said. “We just do not see how they can get an invitation.”Iran has repeatedly refused to meet those terms, the U.S. official said. “We just do not see how they can get an invitation.”
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview Kerry’s participation in the scheduled conference, would not say whether Kerry would back out or advocate that the meeting be scrapped if the impasse continues. Ban told reporters Sunday evening that Iran had been invited after it 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 Assad.
Ban told reporters 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. But an Iranian official said Tehran had not agreed to the terms, and Assad fueled the ire of the opposition by indicating in an interview that he has every intention of remaining in power.
But an Iranian official said Iran had not agreed to the terms, and Assad further fueled the ire of the opposition by indicating in an interview that he has every intention of remaining in power. The Syrian Opposition Coalition, which had voted only the previous day to attend the talks after eight months of bitter debate, issued an ultimatum of 2 p.m. Eastern time for the United Nations to rescind the invitation to Iran. Otherwise, the opposition group said, it will not attend the event, intended to feature the first direct talks between the government and the opposition since the Syrian conflict erupted about three years ago.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition, which had voted only the previous day to attend the peace talks after eight months of bitter debate, issued an ultimatum of 2 p.m. Eastern time for the United Nations to rescind the invitation. Otherwise, the opposition will not attend the event, intended to feature the first direct talks between the government and the opposition since the Syrian conflict erupted three years ago.
“We cannot attend if Iran is there, and the coalition is united on this point,” coalition member Hadi al-Bahra said. After the deadline passed, coalition members said they would hold out a little longer because they had been told to expect “positive news” soon.“We cannot attend if Iran is there, and the coalition is united on this point,” coalition member Hadi al-Bahra said. After the deadline passed, coalition members said they would hold out a little longer because they had been told to expect “positive news” soon.
The disputes exposed the depth of the divisions within the international community over the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 100,000 people over the past three years. Assad’s chief backers, Russia and Iran, have never endorsed the view shared by the United States and its European and Arab allies that the conference should be intended to negotiate an end to Assad’s rule. The disputes exposed the depth of the divisions within the international community over the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 100,000 people. Assad’s chief backers, Russia and Iran, have never endorsed the view shared by the United States and its European and Arab allies that the conference should be aimed at negotiated an end to Assad’s rule.
It remains 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. Syrian Opposition Coalition members said they were stunned by the U.N. announcement just three days before the conference, which prompted some of those who had been planning to attend to cancel plane tickets. The State Department swiftly said the invitation should be withdrawn unless Iran endorses the conference’s terms, which are spelled out in a communique known as Geneva 1 that was agreed to by Russia and the United States in 2012.
Coalition members said they were stunned by the U.N.’s announcement just three days before the conference, which forced some of those who had been planning to attend to cancel plane tickets. The State Department swiftly said the invitation should be withdrawn unless Iran endorses the conference’s terms, which are spelled out in a communiqué known as Geneva 1 that was agreed by Russia and the United States in 2012. “If Iran does not fully and publicly accept the Geneva communique, the invitation must be rescinded,” said Jen Psaki, a spokeswoman for the State Department.
“If Iran does not fully and publicly accept the Geneva communiqué, the invitation must be rescinded,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. Iranian officials gave no indication that they had accepted it, however. Marzieh Afkham, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, said Iran has accepted the invitation but reiterated the country’s long-standing position that it would attend only if no preconditions were attached.
Iranian officials gave no indication that they had accepted it, however. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said Iran accepted the invitation but reiterated Iran’s long-standing position that it would attend only if no preconditions were attached. “As announced before, we do not accept any precondition to take part in Geneva conference II and, based on the official invitation, participate in the talks without any precondition,” Afkham said.
“As announced before, we do not accept any precondition to take part in Geneva conference II, and based on the official invitation participate in the talks without any precondition,” Afkham said.
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.”
The coalition 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 immediately announced on Twitter that it was suspending its decision to attend “unless Ban Ki-Moon retracts Iran’s invitation.”
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 coalition back into disarray only hours after it had reached a decision to attend the talks.
Members huddled in meetings overnight to debate the twist as diplomats from around the world bombarded them with telephone calls urging them not to withdraw, coalition members said. Coalition members said they huddled in meetings overnight to debate the twist as diplomats from around the world bombarded them with telephone calls urging them not to withdraw.
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 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 Tehran’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 its role as a key Assad backer 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. In New York, Ban stressed that Tehran had been invited only after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had agreed to the terms of the conference.
“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 Friday in Geneva between representatives of the regime and the opposition, and mediated by the United Nations. It will, however, 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. He also noted that Iran will not participate in the actual peace talks, which will take place Friday in Geneva between representatives of the regime and the opposition and will be mediated by the United Nations. Iran will, however, 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 civil war.
The Geneva 1 agreement was vague however on the fate of Assad, leaving it unclear whether the talks are intended to remove him or simply weaken his authority. Although the United States has repeatedly stressed that Assad must leave office, Russia has continued staunchly to support him, and the opposition fears that if Iran also attends the conference, it will serve only to reinforce his grip on power. The Geneva 1 agreement, however, was vague about the fate of Assad, leaving it unclear whether the talks are intended to remove him or simply weaken his authority. Although the United States has repeatedly stressed that Assad must leave office, Russia has continued to support him, and the opposition fears that if Iran attends the conference, it will serve only to reinforce his grip on power.
In an interview with the Agence France-Presse news agency, Assad made it clear that he does not intend to relinquish power and said he planned to stand for reelection this year. In an interview with the Agence France-Presse news agency, Assad made it clear that he does not intend to relinquish power and said he plans to stand for reelection this year.
“I will not hesitate for a second to run for election,” he said. “In short, we can say the chances for my candidacy are significant.”“I will not hesitate for a second to run for election,” he said. “In short, we can say the chances for my candidacy are significant.”
Gearan reported from Washington. Ahmed Ramadan contributed from Beirut. Gearan reported from Washington. Ahmed Ramadan in Beirut contributed to this report.