No Solution for Syria without Iran, Russia: German FM

“Not everyone may like it, but without Moscow and without Tehran there will be no solution for Syria,” Gabriel said ahead of a meeting between foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations.

He further noted that Russia and Iran must be involved in any peace process to end Syria’s six-year civil war.

The German FM said the United States had “sent a clear signal to the Assad regime” by launching cruise missiles at a Syrian air base, but said other nations should “reach out to Russia” rather than seek a military escalation.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called on US President Donald Trump in a phone conversation on Monday to continue the Syrian settlement under the UN auspices and cooperate with Russia, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said.

“The Chancellor stressed that … there is the need to do everything to continue political settlement under the UN auspices,” Seibert said. “At the same time, cooperation with Russia has special importance for launching transitional political process,” he said

Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Masato Ohtaka has also said that “in terms of dialogue and other political engagement I think a lot of countries think that Russia can play a key role.”

The G-7 wants to deliver a united message to Russia through US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who heads to Moscow after Tuesday’s meeting in Lucca, Italy.