Iran says national Syrian dialogue to be held " soon"

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said here Monday that the national Syrian talks will be held "soon," the official IRNA news agency reported. The talks will be held with the participation of the representatives of all the Syrian people, includingthe ethnic groups, political parties, the opposition groups and the government in Tehran or in one of the regional countries "soon," said Amir-Abdollahian. He made the remarks after meeting with visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov on Monday. Bogdanov also discussed regional developments, particularly those pertaining to Syria, with Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi, said the report. Amir-Abdollahian added that some of the opposition groups have not agreed to enter the talks, but there are attempts to persuade them, said IRNA. Proximity among different outlooks in Syria is being built up and the Syrian groups have come to the conclusion that political solution to Syrian issue should be considered, he was quoted as saying. The Iranian deputy foreign minister referred to the Monday talks between Iranian foreign minister and the Russian side as " helpful," saying that both Iran and Russia "strongly" support the reforms proposed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. UN-Arab League (AL) joint special representative Lakhdar Brahimi has proposed a cease-fire in Syria during the upcoming Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha holiday, which starts on Oct. 26. Iran and Russia are the regional allies of the Syrian government and oppose Assad's resignation under Western pressures.