Second Conversation Between Zarif and Lavrov on Syria in Two Days

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation in Syria over the phone on Monday, November 4, marking their second conversation on the topic within the week. According to Interfax, citing a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the discussion focused on Syria's situation 'in terms of combating terrorism and providing a political solution to the crisis in the country, through garnering international support with the participation of key regional countries.' This was the second phone call between Zarif and Lavrov regarding Syria in the past two days; previously, the two had discussed the Vienna meeting in a phone call on Saturday. Iran and Russia are the main supporters of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria. During the political crisis and civil war in Syria over the past five years, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and wounded, and millions more have been displaced. Concurrently, the official Syrian news agency (SANA) reported on the visit of Yusuf bin Alawi, the Foreign Minister of Oman, to Damascus and his meeting with Bashar al-Assad on Monday. According to this report, Alawi discussed 'the proposed ideas at regional and international levels to help resolve the crisis in Syria.' Bashar al-Assad stated, 'The Syrian people welcome Oman's sincere efforts to help achieve their aspirations in preserving their territorial integrity and national sovereignty.' The Omani Foreign Minister also expressed that his country is eager for 'unity and stability' in Syria. This is one of the few visits by a senior Arab official to Syria since the onset of the crisis in the country. Nearly all Arab countries are calling for the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's government.