Iran deplores western powers' meddling in Syria

Iranian Parliament Speaker’s top advisor for international affairs Hossein Sheikholeslam said the western states' meddling in Syria is exacerbating the situation, stressing that the only way to stop bloodshed in the country is the start of national dialogue among all Syrian groups through cooperation and contribution of the regional actors. “If foreign countries had not meddled in Syria, the country’s future would been very different. We seek the resolution of the Syrian issue within the region, since outsiders are pursuing their own interests,” Sheikholeslam pointed out. Turning to the planned International Geneva II Peace Conference on Syria issue, Sheikholeslam stated that countries invited to the conference must agree to a truce and immediate negotiations between different sides in order to pave the way for next year's national elections in Syria. Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, the western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria. According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and a total of 7.8 million of others displaced due to the violence.