Russia, Iran to Coordinate With Damascus on Zarif Syria Reconciliation Plan

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, said that Moscow and Tehran shared a common view on the need to quickly end the Syrian civil war.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia and Iran will enhance their coordination with the Syrian government on Tehran's plan for a political settlement of the ongoing Syrian civil war, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs said Tuesday.

"Yesterday we talked with Mr. [Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail] Bogdanov about the details of the plan [proposed earlier by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif]. Both sides pledged to enhance dialogue with the Syrian authorities on it," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said at a press conference at International Information Agency Rossiya Segodnya.

He added that Moscow and Tehran shared a common view on the need to quickly end the Syrian civil war.

According to media reports, a four-step Iranian plan includes an immediate ceasefire in Syria, the creation of a national unity government, the amending of the country's constitution to grant more rights to the Syrian ethnic groups and a general election.

Zarif has repeatedly stated that a regional priority for Iran is fighting the Islamic State extremist group, active in Syria and other countries.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011 as government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fight several opposition and radical Islamist militant groups, including Nusra Front and Islamic State.

Over 250,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the Syrian conflict, according to UN estimates.