Russia: rescinding invitation to Iran to join Syria talks a mistake but not a catastrophe
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Russia's foreign minister says that the U.N. decision to rescind the invitation to Iran to join this week's Syria peace talks was a mistake but not a catastrophe.
Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's decision to withdraw his last-minute offer to Iran to attend the conference would have a negative impact on the United Nations image.
Lavrov, speaking at a news conference, reaffirmed Russia's argument that the presence of Iran was essential for the success of the conference that is set to begin Wednesday in the Swiss resort of Montreux.
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Iran has been the main regional ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, supporting his regime with advisers, money and materiel since the uprising began in 2011.