DUSHANBE, January 21, 2014, Asia-Plus — International media sources report that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on January 20 withdrew an invitation to Iran to participate in Syrian peace talks after groups opposing President Bashar al-Assad”s regime threatened a boycott of the discussions if Tehran got a seat at the table.
The change of heart comes barely a day after Ban asked Iran to take part. Within hours of the original offer, however, the U.N. chief said he was “urgently considering his options” in light of the “disappointing conduct of some participants.”
Immediately following Ban”s backtracking, Syria”s main opposition group, which had issued an ultimatum saying it would not send representatives if Iran was taking part, reaffirmed its participation in the talks.
The United States has also welcomed the withdrawal of the invitation to Iran, saying it hopes all parties at the talks – including delegates from more than 40 governments — can now focus on achieving results.
But Russia has described Iran as a major player in the Syrian situation and said Tehran”s exclusion would weaken any outcome stemming from the meetings.
Meanwhile, the United States and European Union say they will lift some sanctions against Iran after reports from international inspectors that Tehran has suspended high-level enrichment of uranium under an interim pact to scale back its nuclear program.
The Associated Press reports that the deal that went into effect Monday was worked out in talks brokered by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. “The payoff to Iran should be an influx of billions of dollars over the next six months into the Islamic republic”s shaky economy.”
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who voted with other EU foreign ministers in Brussels to suspend some of the sanctions for six months, reportedly called the deal “an important milestone.”
A statement released Monday by White House press secretary Jay Carney commented on the report that Iran had complied with stopping uranium enrichment, calling it “an important step forward.”
The moves will ease restrictions on Iran”s trade of petrochemicals and precious metals, as well as insurance regulations for oil shipments.
