Rouhani: Iran ready to hold talks on Syria with US, Saudi

President Hassan Rouhani also urged the international community to prioritise halting the bloodshed, rather than Syrian opposition demands, such as the ousting of Syria's president Bashar Al Assad.

TEHRAN // Iran’s president said on Tuesday that his country is ready to hold talks with the United States and Saudi Arabia on ways to resolve Syria’s civil war, providing such negotiations can secure peace and democracy in conflict-torn Syria.

Hassan Rouhani was speaking during a press conference with visiting Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer.

When asked if he would sit down and negotiate with the Saudis and Americans on the Syrian crisis, Mr Rouhani said, “Iran will sit at any table with regional countries and world powers if the outcome will be a safer, stable and democratic future for Syria.”

He said this was part of Iran’s commitment to “international, Islamic and humane” norms.

Iran is a leading patron of Syrian president Bashar Assad and accuses its rival Saudi Arabia and the US of siding with anti-Assad rebels and militants.

Tehran has also sent military advisers to Damascus to help Mr Assad’s troops against the ISIL group. Iran, however, denies sending combat forces to help the Syrian regime militarily.

Mr Rouhani also urged the international community to prioritise halting the bloodshed, rather than Syrian opposition demands, such as the ousting of Mr Assad.

Western countries, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly called for Mr Assad to step down.

“It is not a matter of supporting a specific individual or government,” said Mr Rouhani. “While people of Syria are being killed and displaced, is it really a priority to discuss opposition groups ... and changes in the [Syrian] constitution?”

“Foreign countries and powers should not and cannot decide about the future of Syria but should help bring about security in Syria,” he said.

Following the landmark nuclear deal in July between Tehran and world powers, Iran is increasingly working to strengthen ties with western countries.

* Associated Press