Iran, Syria discuss new initiative to end conflict

The leadership in Syria has welcomed a new initiative proposed recently by Iran to bring an end to the long-running Syrian conflict, visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Abdul Lahyan said on Thursday.

At a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad, Lahyan said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other officials promised they would study Iran's proposal, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lahyan did not disclose details regarding the initiative but sources said it includes establishing an immediate ceasefire, forming a national unity government, rewriting the constitution and conducting legislative elections under international supervision.

"We have sensed that President al-Assad and other Syrian officials have welcomed the Iranian initiative and voiced their intention and determination to discussing it in order to reach for the desirable results," he said.

"We are optimistic about this initiative and we are calling on all concerned countries and the UN to join these efforts to reach the suitable solutions for the Syrian crisis," he added.