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Syria crisis: Iran invite threatens Geneva peace talks Syria crisis: Iran cannot go to Geneva peace talks - US
(35 minutes later)
Syria's Western-backed opposition has threatened to pull out of forthcoming peace talks in Switzerland, after the UN invited Iran to take part. The US has urged the UN to drop its invitation to Iran to join peace talks on Syria, due to begin on Wednesday.
The National Coalition said Iran, a key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, had not committed to the idea of a transitional government in Syria. US officials and the Western-backed opposition said Iran had not backed the aim of the peace talks, which was to form a Syrian transitional government.
US officials say they expect the invite to be rescinded. Russia said the talks would be a "profanation" without Iran. The opposition National Coalition said it would pull out if Iran, a key ally of Syria's regime, goes to the talks.
Mr Assad reiterated on Monday that the talks must focus on "terrorism". Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assad has reiterated that he will not share power with the National Coalition.
His regime labels all rebel groups as terrorists, and stresses that they are backed by "foreigners". He said on Monday that the possibility of the National Coalition obtaining any ministerial positions in a new government was "totally unrealistic".
In an interview with AFP news agency, Mr Assad also indicated he was not going to quit as president, saying he was likely to run for a third term. In an interview with AFP news agency, Mr Assad also indicated he was not going to quit as president and that he was likely to run for a third term.
He said the possibility of the National Coalition obtaining any ministerial positions in a new government was "totally unrealistic".
The National Coalition had initially refused to attend the talks because they wanted a guarantee that any transitional government would not involve Mr Assad.The National Coalition had initially refused to attend the talks because they wanted a guarantee that any transitional government would not involve Mr Assad.
They agreed to join the talks only two days ago, but now say that they will pull out unless the offer of Iran's participation is withdrawn by 19:00 GMT.They agreed to join the talks only two days ago, but now say that they will pull out unless the offer of Iran's participation is withdrawn by 19:00 GMT.
United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued the invite to Iran after he had received assurances that the Iranians would play a "positive role" in securing a transitional government. United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said urgent talks were now going on to sort out the issue.
Iran has accepted the invitation to the talks "without preconditions". He invited Iran after he had received assurances that the Iranians would play a "positive role" in securing a transitional government.
Iran accepted the invitation to the talks "without preconditions".
The UN and Russia have long argued that Tehran should play a role.The UN and Russia have long argued that Tehran should play a role.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he backed Mr Ban's decision to invite the Iranians, saying if they were absent "it will look like a profanation".On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he backed Mr Ban's decision to invite the Iranians, saying if they were absent "it will look like a profanation".
But the US, which has not had formal diplomatic relations with Tehran for three decades, has insisted Iran has to commit to a transitional government. But the US, which has not had formal diplomatic relations with Tehran for three decades, insisted Iran had to commit to a transitional government.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says a US official told her that public statements given by Tehran fall short of the commitment given to Mr Ban in private, and that the US expects the invitation to be withdrawn. State department officials said that public statements given by Tehran fell short of the commitment given to Mr Ban in private, and that the US expects the invitation to be withdrawn.
The US has accused Tehran of giving military and financial support to Mr Assad's regime.The US has accused Tehran of giving military and financial support to Mr Assad's regime.
Preliminary talks are due to open in Montreux on Wednesday and then continue in Geneva two days later.Preliminary talks are due to open in Montreux on Wednesday and then continue in Geneva two days later.
The path to the talks began in May last year when Mr Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to try to bring both sides together.The path to the talks began in May last year when Mr Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to try to bring both sides together.
Later, the UN Security Council called for a conference to implement the Geneva communique - a deal on a transitional government agreed at a UN-backed meeting in 2012.Later, the UN Security Council called for a conference to implement the Geneva communique - a deal on a transitional government agreed at a UN-backed meeting in 2012.
The three-year conflict in Syria has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people.The three-year conflict in Syria has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people.
An estimated two million people have fled the country and some 6.5 million have been internally displaced.An estimated two million people have fled the country and some 6.5 million have been internally displaced.