Astana process likely to meet in Doha to discuss Syria – report

The foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Russia are likely to meet in the framework of the Astana process on December 7 and 8 to discuss Syria on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi said on Monday, according to Iranian state media.

"It is likely that a meeting involving representatives from Qatar, Iran, Turkey, and Russia will be held in Doha next week to discuss the situation in Syria," Araghchi said to Al Jazeera, as reported by Russian outlet TASS.

TASS further cited reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan intended to revive the Astana Format, a 2017 initiative between Russia, Iran, and Turkey that aimed for an end to the conflict in Syria. Fidan reportedly intends to hold a joint meeting between Russia, Iran, and Turkey to discuss the current Syrian conflict, which TASS reported was discussed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The Astana format has had 21 meetings since 2017. It named Russia, Iran, and Turkey as the guarantor countries of solving the crisis in Syria, with representation from the UN and Syrian officials as well.

The civil war in Syria broke out in 2011 after current President Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protests. It has resulted in over half a million people dead, The Moscow TImes reported.

International conversations

Iran's announcement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin held a series of talks regarding Syrian rebels' advances in the Idlib province.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the outbreak of conflict with Putin by phone, Erdogan's office said in a Tuesday post on X/Twitter.

Reuters reported that Erdogan told Putin that Turkey supports Syria's territorial integrity and strives for a just and lasting solution in Syria. 

"President Erdogan highlighted the importance of making more room for diplomacy in the region, and underscored that the Syrian regime should engage in the political solution process," Reuters added. Erdogan also said that Syria should not become a source of greater instability.

"Erdogan stated that Turkey will continue to maintain its determined stance on the fight against the terrorist organization PKK and its extensions who are trying to take advantage of the recent developments in Syria," the statement reads.

Additionally, Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian talked over the phone on Monday, the Kremlin said.  

The two leaders discussed "unconditional support" for al-Assad's government and the need for Syria to "restore constitutional order and maintain the country’s territorial integrity."

In a related incident, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood criticized joint Russian and Syrian attacks. 

"The fact that HTS is listed as a terrorist organization by the US and UN does not justify the further atrocities by the Assad regime and its Russian backers," said Wood, accusing al-Assad's forces and Russia of causing civilian casualties in attacks on schools and hospitals.

Wood responded by accusing Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia of being in "no position to lecture us on this issue" because Moscow "props up regimes that sponsor terrorism around the world," Reuters reported.

"The United States has for decades fought the scourge of terrorism and will continue to fight that scourge of terrorism," he said.

Nebenzia told Wood in response that the ambassador was "unable to summon the courage to condemn a clear terrorist attack undertaken against peaceful civilians in peaceful Syrian cities."

"There are no illusions that Washington will ever be willing to sincerely combat international terrorism," he said. "To be frank we are pleased that we are on opposite sides of the barricades right now from you."

Russia has been striking rebel-held areas in Syria since 2015. 

Reuters contributed to this report.