Iran welcomes Assad’s ‘comprehensive’ Syrian peace plan
Iran welcomes Assad’s ‘comprehensive’ Syri… JPost – Middle East.
DUBAI – Iran welcomed Syrian President Bashar Assad’s television address, saying he had rejected violence and offered a “comprehensive political process” to end his country’s conflict, Iranian media reported on Monday.
Assad’s speech on Sunday was billed as the unveiling of a new peace plan but the president offered no concessions and dismissed the prospect of negotiations with Syrian opposition groups, which described it as a renewed declaration of war.
Iran has steadfastly backed Assad’s rule since an uprising began almost two years ago and regards him as an important part of the axis of opposition against Israel. Iran describes many Syrian opposition groups as “terrorists” who are backed by Western and Arab states.
“This plan rejects violence and terrorism and any foreign interference in the country and outlines a future for the country … through a comprehensive political process,” Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi said in a statement published by state news agency, IRNA.
Salehi urged world and regional powers to support attempts to end the crisis through a “Syrian solution”.
The Islamic Republic has sought international backing for its six-point plan to resolve the conflict, which the United Nations says has killed more than 60,000 people. The plan calls for an immediate end to violence and negotiations between all parties to form a transitional government, but does not call for Assad to step down.
Western powers and Syrian opposition groups view Tehran with deep distrust, saying it provides significant military and financial support to the Syrian government.
WarSclerotic 
January 7, 2013 at 11:47 AM
It was only a show, in a theatre hall. And it was a stupid show, also.
January 7, 2013 at 1:31 PM
This show will be used by Iran to double down with its military support of Assad. Soon Iran’s dream of having its forces directly facing Israel will come true. The jihadi forces now on the Golan will be replaced by Iranian forces that have come to aid and support the “legal” Syrian regime against terrorists. Perfect. Next Jordan.
January 7, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Not gonna happen, Norm.
I’m with Luis on this. Syria is a quagmire from which nobody who intervenes can possibly benefit.
I hope the Iranians DO replace the Jihadis. Iran is the foundation upon which all radical Islam now relies, including the Jihadis. Their direct intervention in Syria is doomed to failure regardless of the West’s response.
The Soviet Union was undone by Afghanistan. Iran is no Soviet Union. If the war is continuing after 60,000 were already killed, what is it about Iranian forces that could stop the rebellion?
C’mon Iran. Intervene! “Here, kitty kitty…”
January 7, 2013 at 7:17 PM
Yes, thanks JW for reminding our estimation regarding Syria mud.
The syrian killing fields are like a black hole which absorbs inside everything that you will throw to it. Right now, its like a jihadists heaven. No wander, then, that all those death tourists are pouring in with joy. If Iran will enter this deadly sands with its armed forces, we will see a long agony of its military machine and all the sunnis in the region will raise to arms against Iran.
January 7, 2013 at 10:08 PM
I actually read something to the other day, I think on Debka. According to their conspiracy theory department, Obama and friends are stoking the Syrian fire in order to attract and ‘consume’ alqaeda and other jihadis. Could be a prelude to Iran.