Russia says Iran has ‘full right’ to mediate in Syrian conflict

TEHRAN, June 10 (MNA) – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said that the Islamic Republic has a “full right” to mediate in the Syrian conflict. In an interview with the Russian Interfax news agency on Saturday, Gatilov said that Iran’s influence on Syria means that it can play a “constructive role in seeking ways to resolve the Syrian conflict.” Russia has called for an international meeting on Syria, saying that sanctions or military intervention would “only aggravate the already difficult atmosphere.” “Our logic is that it is not necessary now to apply additional pressure, to introduce sanctions or use the threat of force,” Gatilov told Interfax news agency. “Introducing restrictive or forceful measures clearly will not foster (peace) and will only aggravate the already difficult atmosphere,” Gatilov stated. On June 6, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Iran and Turkey to be included in an upcoming international meeting dedicated to ending the crisis in Syria. “We believe it is necessary to assemble a meeting of states with real influence on different opposition groups. There are not that many,” Lavrov said in Beijing, where he accompanied President Vladimir Putin at a security meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). “It is all permanent members of the UN Security Council, leading countries in the region, it is Turkey; one should not forget Iran, the Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference; the European Union could contribute, I think,” Lavor added.