Iran should be part of solution in Syria: Kofi Annan

Tehran has offered its support to end the conflict.Annan was in Iran in a bid to salvage his faltering peace plan for the 16-month-old crisis in Syria, which activists say has killed more than 17,000 people. The trip to Tehran comes a day after Annan agreed with Syrian President Bashar Assad on a new framework to stop the violence.My presence here proves that I believe Iran can play a positive role and should therefore be a part of the solution in the Syrian crisis, Annan told reporters in Tehran after meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.He said that he has received encouragement and cooperation from the Iranian government, he said but did not specify what support Tehran has offered.A staunch ally of Syria, Iran has provided Assad with military and political backing for years, and has kept up its strong support for the regime since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011.Iran on Tuesday reaffirmed its full support for international envoy Kofi Annans peace plan aimed at ending the Syria crisis, saying that the plan should be fully implemented to restore stability.We expect that Mr Annan will continue his efforts to bring about stability and peace in Syria and the region, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said at a joint news conference with the UN and Arab league envoy.Annan arrived in Iran after talks with embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday and following a Friends of Syria meeting in Geneva last month to which Iran, Damascuss staunchest regional ally, was not invited.Tehran was excluded from the Geneva talks -- which the Islamic republic dubbed unsuccessful -- following US and EU objections.The gathering in Switzerland agreed a plan for a political transition in Syria which did not make an explicit call for Assad to quit, although the West and the opposition made clear it saw no role for him in a unity government.Annan, a former UN chief, on Tuesday reiterated his wish that Iran be involved in a solution to the crisis.