UN rescinds Iran's invite for Syria talks

The main western-backed Syrian opposition has now announced that it will attend the peace talks in Geneva.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after UN chief Ban surprised the US and others by inviting Iran to the Syria peace talks 

The UN secretary-general has withdrawn his invitation to Iran to join this week's Syria peace talks, saying he is "deeply disappointed" by Iran's statements on Monday.


A spokesman for Ban Ki-moon announced the withdrawal less than 24 hours after Ban surprised the US and others by saying he had invited Syria's closest regional ally.

The withdrawn invitation came shortly after Iran's UN ambassador declared the Islamic Republic wouldn't join the Syria talks if required to accept 2012 Geneva roadmap.
A spokesman for Ban, Martin Nesirky, says senior Iranian officials had assured Ban that Iran understood the terms of his invitation.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is "urgently considering his options" in light of the "disappointing conduct of some participants" involved in the Syria peace talks after he invited Iran to attend, his spokesman said on Monday.

Martin Nesirky told reporters that Ban "is dismayed" at the developments after he announced the invitation on Sunday.

Nesirky says Iran, despite assurances, "has made a disappointing public statement" that suggests Iran doesn't accept the terms of this week's peace talks in Switzerland.

Senior US officials say the invitation must be withdrawn unless Iran fully and publicly endorses the formation of a transitional government for Syria that would pave the way for democratic elections.
Syria's main Western-backed opposition group says Iran must commit publicly by 1900 GMT to withdraw its "troops and militias" from Syria and abide by those terms, or the U.N. should withdraw the invitation.

"The statement today in Tehran by the foreign ministry spokesperson fell short by some measure of what the secretary-general expected to hear," Nesirky said, adding that the U.N. has been in close contact with the US and Russians over the weekend.

He also denied Ban's invitation caught the U.S. by surprise, saying they were fully aware of the timing of the announcement. Iran is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
AP has also reported that the main western-backed Syrian opposition says it will attend peace talks in Geneva.