The United Nations has formally invited Iran to join this week's long-awaited Syrian peace talks in Switzerland. told reporters Sunday that he believes Iran "needs to be part of the solution in Syria."
He said Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has assured him that Iran understands the basis of the talks, which are set to begin Wednesday in Montreux before shifting to Geneva.
" and I agreed that the goal of the negotiations is to establish by mutual consent a transitional governing body with full objective powers. It was on that basis that Foreign Minister Zarif pledged that Iran would play a positive and constructive role in Montreux."
The goal of establishing a transitional government was laid out at a 2012 international peace conference.
Iran has long rejected that declaration because a transitional authority would likely exclude President Bashar al-Assad, who is a major Iranian ally.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States remains "deeply concerned" about Iran's support of Mr. Assad's government, and that Iran must publicly accept the peace conference's goals or be uninvited from the talks.
Russia, another Syrian ally, has called for Iran to be a part of the negotiations.
Mr. Ban also has invited nine other nations that have an interest in the Syrian civil war to join the talks. He says their presence would be an important show of solidarity.
The U.N. chief also welcomed the main opposition group's decision to attend.
Syria says the issue of Mr. Assad giving up power is not up for discussion, so few experts expect the talks will reach this goal.
He said Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has assured him that Iran understands the basis of the talks, which are set to begin Wednesday in Montreux before shifting to Geneva.
" and I agreed that the goal of the negotiations is to establish by mutual consent a transitional governing body with full objective powers. It was on that basis that Foreign Minister Zarif pledged that Iran would play a positive and constructive role in Montreux."
The goal of establishing a transitional government was laid out at a 2012 international peace conference.
Iran has long rejected that declaration because a transitional authority would likely exclude President Bashar al-Assad, who is a major Iranian ally.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States remains "deeply concerned" about Iran's support of Mr. Assad's government, and that Iran must publicly accept the peace conference's goals or be uninvited from the talks.
Russia, another Syrian ally, has called for Iran to be a part of the negotiations.
Mr. Ban also has invited nine other nations that have an interest in the Syrian civil war to join the talks. He says their presence would be an important show of solidarity.
The U.N. chief also welcomed the main opposition group's decision to attend.
Syria says the issue of Mr. Assad giving up power is not up for discussion, so few experts expect the talks will reach this goal.
But they say they do hope the discussions will result in increased humanitarian access and local cease-fires to make life easier for Syrian civilians.
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