Syrian opposition says U.N. talks must focus on transition, fears Iran's role

U.N.-led Syria peace talks in Geneva must first focus on a political transition, the opposition's lead negotiator said after U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura opened a new round of political negotiations in a bid to end the almost six-year conflict.

"If Staffan is serious he has to stick to the first subject in the agenda which is a political transition that is acceptable to the Syrian people," Nasr al-Hariri told reporters, adding the government delegation did not want a transition.

He added that he also feared the role Iran would play behind the scenes.

"Iran is main obstacle to any kind of political deal," he said.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)