Syria Peace Talks Set to Begin, But Without Iran

06:20

January 21, 2014

U.N-Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, left, European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon pose for the media prior to a meeting at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Tuesday Jan. 21, 2014, ahead of the Geneva II conference in Montreux. Russia and Iran criticized the U.N. chief's decision to withdraw Tehran's invitation to join this week's peace conference on Syria, as delegates began to arrive in Switzerland on Tuesday for the long-awaited talks.(Fabrice Coffrini/AP)

On Monday, the United Nations Secretary General issued an unexpected invitation to Iran to attend the long-awaited peace conference on Syria. The possible presence of the Iranians infuriated Syrian opposition leaders, who said they would not attend the conference.

However, after opposition groups and the U.S. made their disapproval of the invitation clear, Iran was disinvited and diplomats affirmed the conference will begin in Switzerland on tomorrow. NPR’s Deb Amos joins Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson with the latest.

Guest

Deborah Amos, international correspondent for NPR. She tweets @deborahamos.

This segment aired on January 21, 2014.