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U.S. Tells U.N. to Withdraw Iran Invitation to Syria Talks Under U.S. Pressure, U.N. Withdraws Iran’s Invitation to Syria Talks
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — The much-anticipated Syria peace conference was threatened by diplomatic disarray on Monday, less than 48 hours before the scheduled start, as the United States said it expected the United Nations to withdraw an invitation to Iran to attend. WASHINGTON — Under intense American pressure, the United Nations on Monday withdrew an invitation to Iran to attend the much-anticipated Syria peace conference, reversing a decision announced a day earlier.
The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, extended the invitation to Iran on Sunday, surprising American officials. The invitation also angered the Syrian opposition and Saudi Arabia, Iran’s regional rival and a major backer of the Syrian insurgency, and they threatened to boycott the talks, which are to commence on Wednesday in Montreux, Switzerland. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whose decision to invite Iran had threatened to unravel the Syria talks less than 48 hours before the scheduled start, issued a statement on Monday rescinding the invitation. The United States had said it was surprised by the invitation because Iran had not agreed to conditions for the talks, to be held on Wednesday in Montreux, Switzerland.
Mr. Ban contended he had been privately assured by the Iranians that they would respect the conditions. But in their public statements Iranian officials said Iran had been invited with no such conditions attached.
“Given that it has chosen to remain outside that basic understanding, he has decided that the one-day Montreux gathering will proceed without Iran’s participation,” Mr. Ban’s spokesman said in the statement.
The invitation also angered the Syrian opposition and Saudi Arabia, Iran’s regional rival and a major backer of the Syrian insurgency, and they threatened to boycott the talks.
The United States’ longstanding position has been that Iran, a major backer of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, must publicly endorse the mandate of the conference, which is outlined in a communiqué from a 2012 meeting in Geneva. That mandate says that the conference’s purpose is to negotiate the establishment of a transitional administration that would govern Syria by the “mutual consent” of Mr. Assad’s government and the Syrian opposition.The United States’ longstanding position has been that Iran, a major backer of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, must publicly endorse the mandate of the conference, which is outlined in a communiqué from a 2012 meeting in Geneva. That mandate says that the conference’s purpose is to negotiate the establishment of a transitional administration that would govern Syria by the “mutual consent” of Mr. Assad’s government and the Syrian opposition.
“Since Iran has not publicly and fully endorsed the Geneva communiqué,” a State Department official told reporters Monday morning, “we expect the invitation will be rescinded.”“Since Iran has not publicly and fully endorsed the Geneva communiqué,” a State Department official told reporters Monday morning, “we expect the invitation will be rescinded.”
Asked if the United States expects the conference to go ahead this week, another senior State Department official said the situation was “fluid.” It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Ban’s reversal had avoided a collapse in the plan for the talks.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in accordance with the State Department’s protocol for briefing reporters. The Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said in Moscow on Monday that leaving Iran out of the talks would be an “unforgivable mistake.”
At a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday to discuss the Middle East, Mr. Ban said of the Syria conference, “Intensive and urgent discussions are underway, and I will have more to say about the situation later in the day.” A planned press appearance by Mr. Ban after the Security Council meeting was canceled.
Martin Nesirsky, a spokesman for Mr. Ban, told reporters that the secretary general was “currently urgently considering his options in light of the disappointing reaction of some participants” in the planned peace conference.
Mr. Nesirsky said that Mr. Ban had issued the invitation to Iran on the basis of promises from Tehran that it would publicly welcome the terms of the peace conference. “Assurances were given to him in conversations he had, and that others had, and that has not been followed through,” Mr. Nesirsky said. “The statement made in Tehran by the Foreign Ministry spokesperson fell short by some measure of what the secretary general had expected to hear.”
Mr. Ban announced the invitation to Iran in a news conference on Sunday night. “This could not have been a surprise to U.S. authorities,” Mr. Nesirsky said on Monday. “It was not hasty. They were fully aware of the timing of the announcement.”
The British ambassador to the United Nations, Mark Lyall Grant, echoed the American position on the issue. “So far we have not seen a public assurance from the Iranians, so in our view the Iranians should not be invited,” he said after the Security Council meeting.
But the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said in Moscow on Monday that leaving Iran out of the talks would be an “unforgivable mistake.”
“Negotiations involve sitting at the table not just with those who you like, but with those whose participation the solution depends on,” Mr. Lavrov said at a joint appearance with the foreign minister of Norway.“Negotiations involve sitting at the table not just with those who you like, but with those whose participation the solution depends on,” Mr. Lavrov said at a joint appearance with the foreign minister of Norway.
The United States and several of its allies have opposed Iran’s presence at the conference in part because Iran has been a strong supporter of the Assad government, sending it arms and paramilitary fighters from its Quds force. Mr. Lavrov, in arguing for Iran’s inclusion, noted that several other countries that directly backed one side in the conflict were participating.The United States and several of its allies have opposed Iran’s presence at the conference in part because Iran has been a strong supporter of the Assad government, sending it arms and paramilitary fighters from its Quds force. Mr. Lavrov, in arguing for Iran’s inclusion, noted that several other countries that directly backed one side in the conflict were participating.
Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, has long argued that Iran, as a major regional power, should be included in the talks. But he said last week that the decisions on whether to invite Iran had to be made by consensus among the United States, the United Nations and Russia.Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, has long argued that Iran, as a major regional power, should be included in the talks. But he said last week that the decisions on whether to invite Iran had to be made by consensus among the United States, the United Nations and Russia.
Secretary of State John Kerry called Mr. Ban over the weekend and was expected to speak to him again on Monday.
“They are doing nothing to de-escalate tensions,” a State Department official said on Monday, referring to Iran. “And their actions have actually aggravated them, and so the idea that they would come to the conference refusing to acknowledge support for Geneva I, we do not see how it could be helpful.”
For his part, Mr. Assad said once again that he would not share power with his adversaries or accept the creation of a transitional government.For his part, Mr. Assad said once again that he would not share power with his adversaries or accept the creation of a transitional government.
Mr. Assad said in an interview with Agence France-Presse that the talks in Switzerland should focus on what he called “the war against terrorism” in his country. He described the idea of sharing power as “totally unrealistic,” and said there was a “significant” likelihood that he would seek a new term as president in June.Mr. Assad said in an interview with Agence France-Presse that the talks in Switzerland should focus on what he called “the war against terrorism” in his country. He described the idea of sharing power as “totally unrealistic,” and said there was a “significant” likelihood that he would seek a new term as president in June.
While he has made such remarks before, the timing of his latest comments seemed to underscore the complexities facing negotiators in Switzerland, despite months of preliminary negotiations to bring the combatants to the table.While he has made such remarks before, the timing of his latest comments seemed to underscore the complexities facing negotiators in Switzerland, despite months of preliminary negotiations to bring the combatants to the table.
In the region’s tangles of hostility, the invitation to Iran drew immediate objections from both the exiled political opposition to Mr. Assad and from Saudi Arabia, which is a key backer of the insurgency and the arch rival of Iran, Mr. Assad’s main regional sponsor.In the region’s tangles of hostility, the invitation to Iran drew immediate objections from both the exiled political opposition to Mr. Assad and from Saudi Arabia, which is a key backer of the insurgency and the arch rival of Iran, Mr. Assad’s main regional sponsor.
Mr. Ban said on Sunday that Iranian officials had pledged to play “a positive and constructive role,” implying that Tehran had accepted that the negotiations were posited on the idea of a new political order in Syria.Mr. Ban said on Sunday that Iranian officials had pledged to play “a positive and constructive role,” implying that Tehran had accepted that the negotiations were posited on the idea of a new political order in Syria.
On Monday, however, the Iranian state news media quoted a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry in Tehran as saying, “We have always rejected any precondition for attending the Geneva II meeting on Syria.”On Monday, however, the Iranian state news media quoted a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry in Tehran as saying, “We have always rejected any precondition for attending the Geneva II meeting on Syria.”
“Based on the official invitation that we have received, Iran will attend the Geneva II without any preconditions,” she said, according to Reuters, using the diplomatic shorthand for the long-stalled negotiations.
Within hours of Mr. Ban’s invitation to Iran, Syria’s political opposition said it would not attend the peace conference unless the gesture was rescinded.Within hours of Mr. Ban’s invitation to Iran, Syria’s political opposition said it would not attend the peace conference unless the gesture was rescinded.
“The Syrian coalition announces that they will withdraw their attendance in Geneva II unless Ban Ki-moon retracts Iran’s invitation,” a Twitter message said, quoting Louay Safi, a coalition spokesman.“The Syrian coalition announces that they will withdraw their attendance in Geneva II unless Ban Ki-moon retracts Iran’s invitation,” a Twitter message said, quoting Louay Safi, a coalition spokesman.
The ultimatum came just a day after the opposition coalition, facing a boycott by one-third of its members, voted to send a delegation to the peace talks. The opposition has been under intense international pressure, including from the United States government, to participate.The ultimatum came just a day after the opposition coalition, facing a boycott by one-third of its members, voted to send a delegation to the peace talks. The opposition has been under intense international pressure, including from the United States government, to participate.
In all, some 30 countries have been invited to Montreux for what may be a largely ceremonial opening day of the peace talks. Two days later, Syria’s government and opposition delegations are scheduled to move to Geneva to continue talks, mediated by Mr. Brahimi.In all, some 30 countries have been invited to Montreux for what may be a largely ceremonial opening day of the peace talks. Two days later, Syria’s government and opposition delegations are scheduled to move to Geneva to continue talks, mediated by Mr. Brahimi.
Diplomats and Middle East analysts say that if any breakthroughs are achieved, they will take place in Geneva, not in the opening two days in Montreux. Over all, the negotiations were not expected to yield major results, except perhaps to open up certain parts of Syria to the delivery of humanitarian aid.Diplomats and Middle East analysts say that if any breakthroughs are achieved, they will take place in Geneva, not in the opening two days in Montreux. Over all, the negotiations were not expected to yield major results, except perhaps to open up certain parts of Syria to the delivery of humanitarian aid.