UN Withdrawal Of Invite To Iran, Scandal - Senior Cleric

Tehran, Jan 22, IRNA – Tehran’s substitute Friday prayers leader described on Wednesday the withdrawal of an invitation to Iran to attend the Geneva conference on Syria as a scandal for the UN chief Ban Ki-moon. Referring to the UN action taken under US pressure, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said such a measure indicated that the UN as an international body belongs to Washington not to world nations. It also was an indication of the US continuous hostility towards the Islamic Republic, the Ayatollah stressed. Whether enemies like it or not, it is crystal clear that Iran is a big power in the region with great influence on global and regional developments including Syria, Ayatollah Khatami noted. Iran did not intend to voluntarily participate in the international conference on Syria, he said.. Meanwhile, he said, the conference on Syria being held in the Swiss city will not be fruitful without Iran’s participation. The UN chief, who had invited Iran to take part in the Geneva talks on Syria, rescinded his invitation under the pressure of the US and the Takfiri groups./end