From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 4, 2016
UN envoy for Syria heads to Saudi, Iran
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleThe UN envoy for Syria is heading to Saudi Arabia and Iran to gauge the impact of the rupture in relations between the two longtime regional rivals on efforts to end the Syrian conflict.
UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq says Staffan de Mistura is en route to Riyadh on Monday and will visit Tehran later this week.
Haq says de Mistura “hopes that the adverse consequences of the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran do not affect the peace process with the Syrians.”
Iran, a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Saudi Arabia, a key backer of the opposition, have participated in three rounds of international talks aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict. De Mistura has set a Jan. 25 target date for a fourth round of talks.
— AP
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