Iran Endorses Political Transition In Syria: Annan

Iran supports a Syrian-led politician transition in Syria, according to UN and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan, who informed the Security Council after a trip through Syria, Iran and Iraq.

Annan said that he expects the Security Council to choose what its next steps will be with respect to Syria within the next few days. It is not clear who Syrian President Bashar al Assad will choose to represent Syria in any prospective peace talks with the opposition groups.

[Assad] did offer a name and I indicated that I wanted to know a bit more about the individual, so we are at that stage, Annan told reporters in Geneva.

Syrian opposition groups have adamantly declared that they will not negotiate with the government unless Assad steps down.

What role Iran – one of Assad’s few remaining allies – will play in the Syrian drama is also unclear.