Ban to continue to engage with Iran to resolve Syria cricis despite

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon still believes Iran can play a "constructive" role to resolve the conflict in Syria, and will continue to engage with its officials, even though he withdrew his invitation to them to participate in Geneva II peace Conference this week, his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said on Thursday. "The Secretary-General has been in touch with the Iranian Government, including with Iranian Foreign Minister Java Zarif recently. He has made clear that Iran has a significant role to play in dealing with the conflict in Syria, " he told the daily press briefing. "So," he added, "he (Ban) will continue to engage with them, and he hopes that they can play a constructive and positive role in resolving this crisis." Ban extended an invitation to Iran last Sunday and withdrew it one day later after Tehran, despite previous oral assurances to Ban, refused to accept the Geneva I Communique which calls for a transitional governing body with full executive powers and where Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has no role to play