Iranian delegation which is going to take part in Astana meeting on Syria held separate bilateral talks with Turkish and Russian teams in Astana, capital city of Kazakhstan.
![Iran, Russia, Turkey delegations meet in Astana Iran, Russia, Turkey delegations meet in Astana](/files/en/news/2017/1/21/25756_876.jpg)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Countries Hossein Jaberi-Ansari is leading the Iranian team.
The main meeting starts on Monday and is scheduled to last for two days.
Bilateral and trilateral meetings of Iran-Russia and Turkey are informal and come for further coordination among the three sides, diplomats said.
Main talks are scheduled to be attended by representatives of Iran, Russia, Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkey, certain Syrian opposition groups, UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and probably the US on Monday.
The Kazakh capital is to host the negotiations between representatives from the Damascus government and foreign-sponsored opposition groups on January 23.
The talks are to be mediated by Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
The three countries have over the past several months been working together and holding trilateral talks aimed at improving the situation on the ground in the Arab country.
Last month, such efforts led to the conclusion of a deal enabling the evacuation of civilians and armed elements out of the northwestern city of Aleppo as it was being liberated by the Syrian Army.
Iranian officials, most importantly Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, have voiced opposition to Washington’s attendance, citing its dedication to the ouster of the Syrian government thought supporting the terror groups