Zarif to Sputnik: UN Hopes Syrian Talks to Start by End of January

Iran's foreign minister told Sputnik that Tehran expected intra-Syrian talks to take place before February.

DAVOS (Switzerland) (Sputnik) — Iran hopes that the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva will start no later than by the end of January, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Sputnik on Thursday.

"We certainly hope so," Zarif said when asked if he expected the talks to be held by the end of January.

"It’s up to [UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan] de Mistura to come up with the list of the opposition so that he can in fact work out the delegation from the opposition and start the discussion. And we will provide him with all the support he needs from us," Zarif said.