Iran FM, Syria delegation meet in Astana to discuss Middle East

The senior adviser to the Iranian foreign minister, Ali Asghar Khaji met with a Syrian delegation in Astana in Kazakhstan. The meeting is part of a process going back six years that is designed to bring together Iran, Russia and Turkey to discuss the future of Syria. As the Syrian regime has solidified some of its power in western Syria, the goal of Russia and Iran is now to get Turkey and Damascus to reconcile.

Iran is taking the meeting in Astana seriously. It is unclear how much Russia or Turkey cares about this process. Nevertheless, the Iranians used the meetings to discuss “confronting the crimes of the Zionist regime and preventing the spread of tension to the entire region.”

This is the 22nd meeting in Astana between the parties involved. “Asghar Khaji held a meeting and talks with the chief negotiator of Syria and the accompanying delegation in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan,” the Iranian state news IRNA noted.  (Read More)