Iran opposes the participation of the United States in Syrian peace talks backed by Russia that are due to be launched in Kazakhstan next week, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday. “We have not invited the U.S. and oppose their presence” at the talks, Zarif said, according to Iran’s Press TV. Whether Iran would refuse to attend if the United States were invited was not immediately clear. The talks are part of a three-way process led by Russia and including Turkey and Iran — now the three most powerful international players on the ground in Syria. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, shown arriving at a news conference in Tehran, Jan. 17, 2017, said Iran opposes U.S. participation in Syria peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Source: Washington Post January 17, 2017 22:25 UTC