RADICAL?

Annan: Iran Part of Syrian Solution

UN envoy speaks apart from the U.S. and Europe.

Following talks with the Iranian foreign minister, U.N. envoy to Syria Kofi Annan argued, in a press conference Tuesday, that Iran should be “part of the solution” to Syrian turmoil. “My presence here [in Tehran] proves that I believe Iran can play a positive role,” he said. Since violence began in Syria about 16 months ago, the U.S. and European Union have remained opposed to getting Iran involved—as the volatile country is an ally of Bashar al-Assad’s. Annan clarified Tuesday that he was speaking for himself when he suggested Iran do its part to help. Meanwhile, Syria’s main opposition group, the Syrian National Council, is headed to Russia tomorrow for its own talks on the crisis. They’ve said they are committed to first removing the government of tyrannical President Bashar al-Assad and then moving toward transition. Russia and China both stand with the Syrian president and argue for his involvement in any transition.