IRNA � Middle East problems cannot be solved without Iran�s engagement, Turkey�s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, calling on the US and Saudi Arabia to join the Astana talks for bringing peace back to Syria.


�We have worked with Russia and Iran during Astana talks,� Erdogan said in a recent interview with Portuguese broadcaster RTP. �We are calling for Saudi Arabia and United States to take part in those talks.�

The talks, initiated by Turkey, Russia and Iran parallel to UN talks in Geneva, was held in January with Syrian government and oppositions� representatives in Kazakhstan�s capital.

Referring to Turkey�s approach in taking side of opposition in Syria�s conflict which is in contrast to Iran�s, the president highlighted that Ankara �gets along with Iran� and others where it did not.

�You cannot solve issues in Syria and in Iraq without Iran,� he emphasized.

The fifth round of Astana talks was due to launch in Kazakhstan on Monday, but was postponed. The new date is not set yet.