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Iran Backtracks On Whether It Will Join Syria Peace Talks In Vienna


Iran’s deputy foreign minister said on November 11 that Tehran has not decided whether to join talks in Vienna on November 14 about Syria’s civil war.

Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen television quotes Hossein Amir Abdollahian as saying that Tehran’s participation depends upon Washington's "answers regarding unilateral actions taken by some of the sides” attending the talks “without consulting others.”

A top adviser to Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said last week that Iran would attend the Vienna talks, which will bring together U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry with senior officials from Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

U.S. officials have said representatives from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime and Syria’s moderate opposition are not expected to attend.

Tehran has warned it would quit the talks if it found them unconstructive and has complained about what it says is a negative role in Syria by its regional rival, Saudi Arabia.

Russia and Iran oppose Western and Saudi pressure to force Assad from power.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Al-Mayadeen TV

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