U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he has invited Iran to join peace negotiations between Syria and its opposition scheduled to begin in the Swiss city of Montreux.
Ban said Iran has agreed to the terms of the Geneva Communiqué including its action plan.
The plan calls for a “Syrian-led political process leading to a transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.”
Iran is an important ally of President Bashar Assad.
During a televised press conference, Ban was asked directly if Iran had changed its mind when it came to a political transition in Syria.
“They are committed to play a constructive and positive role in the negotiations,” Ban said. “They welcome this Geneva Communiqué.”
He added that he was “convinced” that they support the Communiqué.
As we’ve reported, Iran’s participation in what’s come to be known as Geneva II has been controversial. The United States long opposed Iran’s participation, but earlier this month, Secretary of State John Kerry seemed to open a door saying they could participate on the sidelines.
On Saturday, the Western-backed umbrella group of Syrian rebels voted to attend the peace talks.
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