Syria: Iranian FM Zarif and Syrian President Assad meet for peace talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif attended a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Wednesday. Assad and Zarif discussed a solution to Syria’s civil war, which includes a four-point proposal Iran wants to submit to the United Nations. The Iranian government has recently worked as a mediator in the conflict, assisting in the establishment of a 48-hour ceasefire that went into effect on Wednesday. It will allow for food and medical assistance to reach areas that have previously been deemed too dangerous such as Zabadani, Fuaa and Kafraya. If the truce is observed, it could lead to negotiations for a longer armistice. After the talks in Syria, Zarif will travel to Pakistan and India.