Russia says Iran crucial to success of Syria meeting

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday Iran's participation was crucial to the success of a meeting on the escalating conflict in Syria planned by UN-Arab league peace envoy Kofi Annan in Geneva this weekend.

Lavrov added that regardless of whether representatives from Iran were present, he would attend the international conference which Annan is attempting to organize on June 30 in Geneva. (Reuters)