Iran continues to push for cease-fire in Syria

The Iranian ambassador in Syria, Mohammad Rida al-Shaibani, said Tuesday that his country is continuing its contacts with Syrian officials and other regional and international parties to support the implementation of the cease-fire plan proposed by UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. "We support Brahimi's plan to achieve a cease-fire during the Eid al-Adha holiday," al-Shaibani told reporters after his meeting with Brahimi Tuesday. "We hope that the plan will work during the holiday," he said, adding that Iran is continuing its contacts with the Syrian officials and other regional and international parties to support the implementation of the plan. The Syrian leadership said it welcomes any peaceful initiative but on condition of international assurance that the opposition groups, or what it calls as "armed terrorist groups," will take an initiative in observing the truce. Brahimi has been pushing for a cease-fire in the country during the four-day festival. Brahimi said he received promises, but not commitment, from all opposition groups outside Syria regarding the proposed cease-fire.