Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) warned against excuses to undermine Syria truce criticizing parties which struggle to intensify the complicated situation in the war-torn country.

In a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Sunday, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said the Islamic Republic is determined to help the implementation of political approaches in order to end war and bloodshed in Syria.

“Political negotiations must be held among Syrians and directed by themselves and the United Nations and influential countries in this regard must exclusively play a facilitating role,” he said.

He stressed the importance of making collective efforts to hold the talks in Damascus as the capital of the united and undivided Syria.

Shamkhani, who acts as Iran’s senior political, security and defense coordinator with Russia and Syria, further added that the anti-terrorism front currently enjoys the political initiative acquired as a result of close cooperation among Tehran, Damascus, Moscow and the resistance front and their successes on the battleground.

The SNSC secretary hailed President Assad’s prominent role in leading the Syrian government and popular forces in the fight against Takfiri terrorism which has led to great achievements.

He emphasized that international capacities must be developed to send humanitarian relief to the Syrian people and reconstruct infrastructures in the war-stricken country.

“Reducing the sufferings and plights of the oppressed Syrian people needs an all-out effort and international will,” Shamkhani said.

A truce, brokered by Russia and Turkey, is largely holding across Syria since late December. Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, and Daesh terrorist groups are excluded from the ongoing truce.

Damascus and Russian officials, however, have reported numerous ceasefire violations on the part of Takfiri militants in recent days.

On December 31, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution endorsing the truce agreement.
The resolution also aims to pave the way for new talks in the Kazakh capital city of Astana next month, ahead of the resumption of UN-brokered peace talks in the Swiss city of Geneva in February.

KD