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Tehran-Riyadh Row Won't Affect Syria Peace Efforts

Tehran-Riyadh Row Won't Affect Syria Peace Efforts
Tehran-Riyadh Row Won't Affect Syria Peace Efforts

The foreign minister reassured that the mounting dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia will not undermine international diplomatic efforts to put an end to a five-year-old crisis in Syria.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always acted responsibly and constructively with regard to crises," Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency.

"We will not let Saudi policy of stoking tensions negatively affect efforts to resolve the Syria conflict," resulting in an aggravated migrant crisis, he told the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, in Tehran on Sunday.

A Tehran-Riyadh row over the Saudi execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr earlier this month worsened when angered Iranian protesters stormed Saudi missions, prompting the kingdom to sever ties with Tehran.

Few days later, Iranian media reported that the Iranian embassy had been targeted by Saudi warplanes, with officials vowing to take action with the UN on the incident.

"What is evident from regional developments is a provocative policy by Saudi Arabia," intended to undermine Syria peace efforts, Zarif said.

De Mistura described Iran's role in settling the Syrian conflict as "constructive."

Financialtribune.com