BREAKING NEWS

US says Iran should only attend Syria talks if it backs transition

WASHINGTON - The United States said on Sunday a UN invitation to Iran to participate in Syrian peace talks on Jan. 22 should be withdrawn unless Tehran publicly states its support for a 2012 agreement that establishes a transition government in Syria.

"If Iran does not fully and publicly accept the Geneva communique, the invitation must be rescinded," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
The United States has long said that Iran should not be allowed to attend the talks in Switzerland on Jan. 22 until it states its support for a June 2012 agreement for a political transition in Syria.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is leading the US delegation to the talks.