UN envoy discusses Syria crisis with Iran

UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura late Tuesday discussed Syria crisis with senior Iranian officials in a bid to seek a political solution to the long-standing conflict, Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said here.

While in Tehran, the Iranian capital, de Mistura met with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian, Haq said, Xinhua news agency reported.

"During his meetings, de Mistura stressed the urgency of a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict and exchanged views on how to proceed with a political process, with the support of the Security Council," Haq said.

"He also underscored the absence of a military solution to this conflict and recalled the imperative for all parties to uphold the principle of the protection of civilians."

The special envoy is working to finalise his proposals to the secretary-general on a way forward to support Syrian parties in their search of a political solution to the conflict, in preparation for a briefing to the Security Council next week in New York, according to Haq.

The UN has long seen Iran as one of the influential countries in the Middle East region which can contribute to international efforts for an early end to the Syria crisis, which broke out in March 2011.