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Moscow and Tehran Call for Coordinated Efforts to Address Escalation in Northern Syria
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Intensive talks between Moscow, Ankara, and Tehran reveal the three parties' concerns about the impact of field changes on the political settlement process
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov initiated telephone consultations Saturday with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts to discuss developments in Syria, following developments in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama.
Lavrov discussed with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan the situation in Syria and the Astana peace process, where the Russian Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that "both parties expressed their deep concern about the dangerous development of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic related to the military escalation in Aleppo and Idlib governorates."
The ministers agreed on the need to unite efforts to maintain Syria's stability, and Iranian official media indicated that Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Araghchi exchanged, during their phone call, positions supporting stability in Syria.
Sources quoted Araghchi telling Lavrov that recent developments in Syria are "part of a plan to destabilize the region," calling for cooperation with Russia to address the current escalation. Araghchi emphasized "the importance of vigilance and cooperation" between Tehran and Moscow to address the field situation, according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry statement.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Lavrov and Araghchi expressed "their grave concern about the dangerous escalation of the situation in Syria," with Lavrov emphasizing the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve stability and urgently discussing the situation within the "Astana" framework.
Turkish diplomatic sources revealed an anticipated visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi to Ankara next Monday.
Levant-Agencies
