Iran: Presidential Elections Opportunity to Restore Peace in Syria

(FNA)- Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham hailed on Tuesday Syria's upcoming presidential elections, set to take place on June 3, as an opportunity to restore peace in the country.

"The Presidential Elections in Syria provides an opportunity for all Syrians and outside powers involved in the Syrian conflict to help restore peace in the Middle Eastern country in a democratic way," Afkham said in a weekly press conference here in Tehran on Tuesday.

She also pointed out that the recent phone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and UN-Arab League Special Envoy on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi was part of Iran's efforts to assist with the establishment of peace and security in the region.

She also called on the international community to help restore peace in Syria.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and UN-Arab League Special Envoy on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in a telephone conversation on Monday underlined the need for a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

During the phone conversation, Zarif and Brahimi discussed the latest developments in Syria. The two diplomats reiterated that diplomacy is the most appropriate solution to the crisis in Syria.

Also, the Iranian foreign minister thanked Brahimi for his efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis in a diplomatic manner.

Iran has repeatedly called for a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis. In November 2012, Tehran hosted a meeting between the representatives of the Syrian government and opposition to encourage them to start talks to find a political solution to their problems. The National Dialogue Conference kicked off work in Tehran mid-November with the motto of "No to Violence, Yes to Democracy".

The meeting brought together almost 200 representatives of various Syrian ethnicities, political groups, minorities, the opposition, and state officials.

Last month Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, once again, underlined that the only way out of the nearly 3-year-long bloodshed in Syria is persuading all sides to take part in comprehensive national dialogue.

Speaking at a meeting with Head of French Parliament (Senate) Finance Commission Phillipe Marini, the top Iranian parliamentarian said since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, Iran has insisted on finding a political solution to stop the chaos and has welcomed determining Syria's fate by the people of that country.

The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, when sporadic pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of western and regional states.

The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle-East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.

As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government has boosted its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.

Washington has remained indifferent to warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.