Reuters: Saudi Arabia, Iran say dispute won't affect Syria talks
Saudi Arabia and Iran said on Sunday that an escalating dispute between the two countries would not affect international efforts to end the war in Syria, even as a large Syrian rebel group cast doubt on the United Nations-led peace process.
The U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said in a statement after meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in Tehran that Iran had assured him that the row would not upset talks set for later this month.
De Mistura is shuttling around the region to shore up support for the negotiations, which are due to start in Geneva on Jan. 25. They are part of a plan endorsed by the Security Council last month to end the five-year-war that has killed 250,000 people and created millions of refugees.
WNU Editor: The Saudis are saying that their disagreement with Iran will not impact the Syrian peace talks .... Saudi Arabia: Fallout with Iran will not affect Syria peace talks (Rudaw), and the Iranians are saying the same thing .... Tehran Says Saudi Arabia Using Diplomatic Row To Hurt Syrian Peace Talks (RFE). What's my take .... all sides are so far apart on all the major issues that I fail to see how any progress can be made from these talks. That what we are seeing right now is posturing .... and all sides trying to placate their own domestic opinion.