Ali Akbar Velayati, the foreign policy advisor to the Leader of Islamic Revolution, expressed optimism over the future of peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups, a round of which was held on Monday and Tuesday in the Kazakh capital Astana.
Velayati said he hopes the Astana talks could help consolidate a ceasefire in Syria that has been in effect since December 30, IRNA reported.
“An expectation that this meeting should settle all differences is not logical,” he said, adding that such discussions should continue to allow for the gradual settlement of the six-year-old crisis.
Astana talks were overseen by Iran, Russia and Turkey, the three countries that brokered the ceasefire.
In a joint statement after the talks, the trio said they “will establish a trilateral mechanism to observe and ensure full compliance with the ceasefire in Syria, prevent any provocations and determine exactly how the ceasefire will work”.
A new round of separate UN-sponsored Syria talks is to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 8.
