Iran Rejects US Offer, Will Not Take Part in Syria Peace Talks

Geneva conference to begin on Jan. 22

Iran's government has rejected a U.S. offer to participate in the upcoming Syrian summit in Switzerland. Reuters reports that the move is a snub to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's suggestion earlier this week that Tehran could play a constructive role "from the sidelines."

The U.N.-backed Geneva 2 peace summit is set to convene on Jan. 22 and will host representatives of the Syrian opposition and President Bashar Assad's government, with the aim of brokering an end to a bitter civil war that has killed more than 100,000 people and displaced millions.