Iran Welcomes Any Peace-seeking Measure In Region: Shamkhani

Tehran, Jan 29, IRNA – Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said on Monday that based on its principled policies Iran wants to cooperate in regional and international issues and welcomes any kind of measure in this regard. In a meeting with former UN chief Kofi Annan who is on a visit to Tehran, Shamkhani said preparing the grounds for international cooperation for peace, justice and stability requires honesty and adoption of fair measures. He underlined the need for negotiating an end to the Syrian crisis, saying, those who failed to reach their goals in Syria through terrorism, now have decided to pursue a political solution to the issue, but through an undemocratic manner. Shamkhani reiterated that any decision about Syria has to be made by the Syrian people through ballot boxes, adding that Iran wants an end to violence by terrorist groups across Syria so as to ease the sufferings of the Syrian nation. The former secretary-general of the United Nations, for his part, appreciated Iranˈs efforts to reduce regional and international tensions, calling for Tehranˈs more active partnership in restoration of security to the region. Kofi Annan arrived in Tehran for a three-day visit at the head of a group of ex-global leaders known as the Elders. Martti Ahtisaari, a former president of Finland, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu and Mexican ex-president Ernesto Zedillo are accompanying Annan during his visit./end