government SyrianPresidentBashar Al-Assad, said Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi in a joint press conference in Tehran with the UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan.
Annan has put forward a six-point peace plan for ending the one-year crisis in Syria, which calls for a UN-supervised ceasefire by all parties, the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, Tehran times reported.
ConsideringIran's roleinMiddle Eastrelations and its close ties to Syria, Annan, the former United Nations secretary general, arrived in Tehran on Tuesday night for talks with Iranian officials on the Syrian crisis.
Kofi Annan, considering Iran as the central point of creating peace in the region, has pleaded Iran to support his peace plan for Syria.
Asserting all should cooperate to make the peace plan operational, Ali Akbar Salehi, however, said that Tehran voices its support for Annan's six-point plan as long as it does not call for the removal of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
Iranian foreign minister also expressed Iran's opposition against interference in internal affairs of Syria.
Salehi stated that "the opportunity must be given to the Syrian government to make changes under the leadership of Bashar al Assad."
Seemingly, Iran continues its support for Kofi Annan's peace plan, backed by the United Nations and Arab League, on the condition that Annan ensures thepreservation ofnational sovereigntyin Syria.
Sources: IRNA, Reuters
