November 18, The Iran Project – Iran’s senior negotiator in the Astana peace process for Syria, in continuation of his regional tour focusing on the Syrian conflict, ended his day-long visit in Moscow and arrived in Damascus on Wednesday (Nov. 15) to hold talks with high-ranking Syrian officials on issues of mutual interest along with regional developments.

While in Damascus, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari Jaberi Ansari, held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and finally left Damascus for Ankara on Friday (Nov. 17).

In Ankara, he conferred issues of mutual interests with Turkish diplomats including Undersecretary of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry Umit Yalc?n and the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal.

During the meeting with Iranian official, al-Assad said Syria’s success to defeat terrorism and restore security lent credibility to the international law and to the right to defend a nation’s independence and territorial integrity.

Al-Assad said the military victories of Syria and its allies against terrorism have contributed to consolidation of the international law and the right to defend a country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

For his part, the Iranian diplomat praised Syria’s success to defeat terrorist groups and ensure security, saying the victory belongs not only to Syrians, but to all those feeling duty-bound to defend their countries and independence.

Jaberi Ansari also held separate meeting with al-Muallem and reviewed the latest bilateral, regional and international developments.

While in Ankara, senior Iranian and Turkish diplomats held talks to make preparations for the expert-level meetings prior to a new round of trilateral summit of Tehran, Ankara, and Moscow about the Syrian crisis, due to be held in Russia next week.

Ansari also met Yalc?n and Onal, who has led the Turkish delegation in Astana negotiations, for preparatory talks on the trilateral meeting that will be attended by foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, and Turkey in the Turkish city of Antalya on Sunday (Nov 19) on the Syrian crisis.

Jaberi Ansari has wrapped up his three-day regional tour on Friday.

The trilateral summit of the three countries will also be held in the Russian city of Sochi on Wednesday.

The 7th round of Syria peace talks brokered by Iran, Russia, and Turkey was held in Astana on October 30 and 31.