Report: Iran gets 'verbal invitation' to Syria conference

An Iranian deputy foreign ministry said his country had been invited to a planned international peace conference in Geneva aimed at ending the war in Syria, Iranian state television reported on Wednesday. The United States and Russia want Syrian President Bashar Assad and his foes to send delegates to the proposed talks, but disagree over the attendance of Iran, an Assad ally.

"We received a verbal invitation to take part in the second Geneva conference..." Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdullahian, told Iran's Press TV. Abdullahian blamed the West for stoking violence in Syria. (Reuters)