Iran Could Play Role in Syria Peace Conference if It Uses Its Influence On Assad

According to State Department officials

Brussels: Iran could improve its chances of playing at least a limited role in the upcoming peace conference on Syria if it persuaded President Bashar Al Assad to stop the bombardment of Aleppo and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to besieged towns and cities, senior US State Department officials said Monday.

Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that in order to participate in the conference, Tehran would have to accept the talks' basic goal of planning for a Syria after the resignation of Al Assad, a longtime ally of Iran's.

But Kerry also said that Iran might informally "contribute from the sidelines," even if it continued to support Al Assad.