Iranian FM Says Tehran Would Join Syrian Peace Talks If Asked

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran is ready to participate in the Syria peace talks in Geneva if it is asked to attend.

Zarif said on November 26 that Tehran has no preconditions for attending the talks, dubbed "Geneva-2" and planned for January 22.

Russia has pushed for Iran's participation, while the Syrian opposition and Western countries oppose it.

The same day, the head of the Free Syrian Army said forces loyal to him would not take part in the peace talks and would continue fighting during the conference.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the peace talks would take place without Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and radical Islamic opposition groups.

More than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced by the civil war in Syria.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP