The failure of the Syrian opposition groups to maintain a united front in the Syria talks is to mainly blame for the unraveling of a recent UN-sponsored truce, a lawmaker said.
Describing the differences between the opposition factions as "fundamental", Yahya Kamalipour said, "Regrettably, there is no accord and coordination among them in complying with the ceasefire. This rendered previous agreements ineffective too."
Speaking in an interview with ICANA on Friday, he added that a clearer distinction needs to be drawn formally between opposition and terrorist groups.
In recent weeks, hundreds of people have died in the fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta, a swath of towns and farms outside Damascus that is the last major rebel-controlled area near the capital.
The fighting has continued in defiance of a UN resolution on February 24 demanding a 30-day truce across the country.
The resolution followed seven straight days of intense fighting between the troops of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is allied to Iran and Russia, and a patchwork of armed groups that rely on the backing from a US-led coalition to force Assad out of power.
Feasibility in Doubt
The Security Council voted unanimously to demand the truce to allow for aid access and medical evacuations. Despite supporting the adoption of the resolution, Russia had cast doubt on its feasibility.
The resolution did not cover militants from the self-styled Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and the Nusra Front, groups designated as terrorists.
Moscow regards the rebel groups based in eastern Ghouta as terrorists and not covered by the UN resolution and has said they have stopped people leaving the enclave by attacking a safe route out, Reuters reported.
Chairman of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri has pledged Iran and Syria would respect the UN resolution but said the truce did not apply to parts of the Damascus suburbs "held by the terrorists".
"Parts of the suburbs of Damascus, which are held by the terrorists, are not covered by the ceasefire and clean-up [operations] will continue there," Baqeri said.
UN Not to Give up
UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura has said the world body would not give up seeking a full 30-day ceasefire, as mandated by the February 24 resolution.
Several ceasefires have collapsed quickly during the seven-year war in Syria.
The Russian military said a five-hour truce had begun in the eastern Ghouta on Friday, the fourth such truce in as many days, to establish a humanitarian corridor so aid can enter the enclave and civilians and wounded can leave.
The UN has sounded the alarm for the humanitarian crisis in the besieged area, where hundreds of people are trapped and in need of life-saving aid.
