Iran voices readiness to send observers for maintaining ceasefire in Syria

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

Iran, one of the three guarantor countries, is ready to send observers to Syria to support the ceasefire, if an appropriate agreement is reached, Tasnim news agency reported.

The negotiations on the ceasefire and de-escalation zones in Syria are underway between Iran, Russia and Turkey, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi told reporters during his press conference in Tehran on May 29.

“If the required grounds are provided, there would be a need to deploy forces that can monitor the ceasefire. We are prepared to take this measure if the necessary agreement is reached,” the Iranian spokesman said.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia will actively promote the quick dispatch of military observers to the de-escalation zones in Syria.

The question about which countries will send their military forces there will be discussed with the government of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Earlier this month, Iran, Russia, and Turkey agreed on a proposal to establish four de-escalation zones in Syria, following intra-Syrian talks held in the Kazakh city of Astana.

These zones are intended to halt conflicts in specific areas between Syrian forces and rebels, and would potentially be policed by foreign troops.

According to Russian defense officials, the fact that the de-escalation agreement was supported by the United Nations, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia guaranteed its implementation.

The civil war in Syria between government and opposition with various terrorist groups involved, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), began back in March 2011.

Syrian President Bashar Assad managed to turn the tide of war in his favor after Russia started an air campaign in September 2015, while Iran is an uncompromising supporter of the Syrian leader.

According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.