BEIRUT: Syria’s landmark ceasefire was threatening to fall apart on Tuesday amid a surge of fighting, especially in northern Aleppo province, as peace talks were set to resume in Geneva.
Fresh concerns about the ceasefire were voiced by Iran, where the United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura was holding talks with the key backer of President Bashar al-Assad.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told De Mistura that the recent increase in fighting was “disturbing and may interfere with the political process”.
Washington had raised similar concerns about the ceasefire ahead of the talks due to start on Wednesday, which De Mistura has called “crucially important”.
In Tehran after meeting Abdollahian, De Mistura expressed hope the truce would hold.
“We agreed that what is very important is that cessation of hostilities continues, that humanitarian aid reaches every Syrian, in particular of course those besieged areas, but every Syrian,” he said.
“A political process leading to a political transition is now crucially urgent.”
Wednesday’s Geneva talks will be the second round since Assad’s regime and rebel forces agreed to the partial truce brokered by Moscow and Washington, which has largely held since February 27.
