Iranian and French officials on Saturday underlined the importance of closer cooperation to help find a political settlement to end the years-long crisis in war-torn Syria.
Tehran is ready to cooperate closely with Paris to help resolve the crisis in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, the foreign minister’s special assistant for political affairs, said at a meeting in Tehran with Francois Senemaud, the French president’s special representative for Syria, ISNA reported.
Iran has often maintained that there is no military solution to problems facing the war-ravaged Arab country, Jaberi Ansari said, adding that the ground should be paved for the return of the Syrian refugees, revision of the country’s constitution and prisoner exchange.
Senemaud, who was recently appointed to the new post after the end of his tenure as ambassador to Iran, said Iran can play a significant role in restoring stability to Syria.
Paris is prepared to support efforts to this end in cooperation with the government in Tehran, he added.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), fighting against the central government.
Iran is a close ally of the Syrian government in the face of foreign-backed terrorists, militants and mercenaries.
