Syria solution: Assad must either leave or be stripped of all authority, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has told Lebanon's al-Hayat newspaper that discussions on resolving the Syria crisis revolve around two options - the departure of Assad with the beginning of a transitional stage, or his remaining in the country while stripped of authority or privilege. Al-Jubeir also emphasized the need to expand communication with Russia as part of the solution.

Regarding Iran, al-Jubeir said that it has become an "occupying state in Syria," adding that "Iran has sent thousands from the Quds Force of its Revolutionary Guard and Shiite militias such as Hezbollah in order to support the Syrian regime."