Iran pushes for release of pilgrims in Syria; Iran earthquakes kill 250; Iran hosts emergency consultations on Syria; Iran to attend Mecca OIC meeting
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  • According to reports, Iran last week stepped up efforts for the return of 48 pilgrims held in Damascus. Tehran has said that some members of the group were retired Revolutionary Guards and military members and has insisted they were in Syria for a Shia pilgrimage. Iran has requested Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, all of which have publicly pledged support to the Syrian opposition, to assist in the release of the Iranians. 1 The Free Syrian Army has claimed the kidnapping. Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, visited Ankara last week to confer with the Turkish Foreign Minister on this issue. 2

    In a tragic development, two strong earthquakes that hit north-west Iran on August 11, 2012 have killed more than 250 people and injured around 1,800. The earthquakes which struck near Tabriz and in East Azerbaijan provinces measured 6.4 and 6.3 and were followed by dozens of aftershocks. 3

    In another development, reports noted that Iran convened emergency consultations to discuss the Syrian conflict in Tehran on August 9, 2012. Around 30 countries attended the meeting, including Russia and China. The Iraqi foreign minister who attended the talks said no conclusions or declarations were made by the participants, and the meeting was meant to “keep interest alive, after Kofi Annan’s failure to find a solution for Syria.” The meeting agenda was earlier announced as including “denouncing violence and establishment of national dialogue in Syria”. 4 Iran only announced the meeting a week ago and hence many key diplomats did not attend. Following the talks, the Iranian foreign minister called the meeting a “success” and said more countries would be invited to participate next time. 5 Meanwhile, Iran has announced that it will attend the emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on August 14 and 15, 2012. 6

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