From the time he first presented his peace plan for Syria, former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan has emphasized the constructive role Iran can play to resolve the dispute in the Arab country. 

 

Annan’s two trips to Tehran over the past few months clearly show the importance he places on Iran and its potential contribution to resolving the issue.  

 

However, Annan’s efforts have been seriously undermined by the United States and Saudi Arabia and their allies, whose interests would be seriously damaged if order were to be restored in Syria. They continue to support the armed terrorist groups in order to pave the way for a civil war, and thus they regard Iran’s involvement in the issue as a major setback to their conspiracies. 

 

The sponsors of terrorism and bloodshed in Syria are well aware of Iran’s influence in the region and know Tehran could use its diplomatic expertise to restore order and stability in Syria. This is why the U.S. and its Arab proxies continue to oppose Annan’s request for Iran to join the international efforts to help the Syrians resolve the crisis in their country. 

 

Annan also regards Iraq as a major player in the Syria issue. Iraq has a very long border with Syria, and the Iraqi government is very concerned about a potential spillover of violence into its western provinces. Thus, Iraq can also play a constructive role in the efforts to reestablish peace and order in the neighboring country, which would also help it protect the security of its own citizens.   

 

The Syria issue has also become a battleground for Russia and the U.S. to revive their old regional and international disputes. This has seriously undermined Annan’s efforts, making it impossible for him to hammer out a deal between the two sides. The U.S. is still insisting that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must resign, while Russia does not believe Assad’s resignation should be a part of the solution to the crisis. 

 

The disputes make the prospects for any settlement of the crisis in the short term all the more grim, but in the long term, Western governments will have no option other than accepting Annan’s peace plan. There is also a possibility that the U.S. and its allies will accept the plan but will also continue to provide arms and funds to the Syrian rebels. 

 

Hossein Sheikholeslam formerly served as Iran’s ambassador to Syria. He is currently the Iranian parliament speaker’s advisor on international issues.