The Cable
The Cable goes inside the foreign policy machine, from Foggy Bottom to Turtle Bay, the White House to Embassy Row.

Exclusive: U.S. and Iran Poised to Meet to Tackle Syria Aid Together

The United States and Iran, enemies in a proxy war in Syria, now appear likely to come together at an upcoming U.N.-sponsored meeting to try grapple with the worsening humanitarian crisis there. It’s the most visible sign yet of the rival powers willingness to work together to resolve the crisis in Syria, according to several ...

JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images

The United States and Iran, enemies in a proxy war in Syria, now appear likely to come together at an upcoming U.N.-sponsored meeting to try grapple with the worsening humanitarian crisis there. It's the most visible sign yet of the rival powers willingness to work together to resolve the crisis in Syria, according to several U.N.-based diplomats and officials. And it's another indication of the emerging thaw in relations between Washington and Tehran.

The United States and Iran, enemies in a proxy war in Syria, now appear likely to come together at an upcoming U.N.-sponsored meeting to try grapple with the worsening humanitarian crisis there. It’s the most visible sign yet of the rival powers willingness to work together to resolve the crisis in Syria, according to several U.N.-based diplomats and officials. And it’s another indication of the emerging thaw in relations between Washington and Tehran.

The U.N. chief relief coordinator, Valerie Amos, recently sent invitations to at least a dozen countries — including the United States, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia — to participate in a high level meeting in Geneva aimed at prodding Syria’s warring parties to provide relief workers access to more than 2.5 million people who have been cut off from the U.N. aid pipeline. Invitations have also been sent to Australia, Britain, China, France, Luxembourg, Russia, Kuwait, Qatar, and a representative of the European Union.

"The humanitarian situation in Syria is deteriorating on a daily basis," according to a confidential U.N. paper describing the initiative. "The objective of the high level humanitarian group is to foster and maximize cooperation among those countries with influence over parties to the Syrian conflict to address humanitarian challenges."

It remains unclear precisely when the U.N. meeting, which was initially planned for the middle of November, will take place. But a diplomat from a country on the invitation list said it would likely be scheduled within about two weeks.

U.S. and Iranian diplomats responded favorably to the request, according to diplomats. But one official said it was unclear whether Saudi Arabia, which has clashed with the United States over its approach to Syria and Iran, would join the group.

"We’ve received an invitation and hope to be in a position to confirm attendance in the near future," said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for the Iranian mission to the United Nations, did not say explicitly that Tehran would attend. But he told the Cable: "We welcome any efforts to help [the] Syrian people" in "parallel to political steps."

"Ms. Amos had discussed some humanitarian ideas on Syria during her visit to Tehran with Iranian officials," Miryousefi added. "The Iranian authorities welcomed the United Nations initiatives in order to help those in need [of] help."

The United States had previously been unwilling to participate with Iran in U.N.-brokered political negotiations over Syria, arguing that Iran was a party to the conflict. Washington’s position has softened following a series of high level contacts with top Iranian officials, including Iran’s newly elected president, Hassan Rouhani, who spoke by telephone with President Obama in September, the first time leaders of the two countries had spoken in over thirty years. However, the United States will only allow Iran to participate in political negotiations over the future of Syria if it endorses a U.N.-backed communique, hammered out in Geneva last year by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, calling for a political transition in Syria. Iran has not endorsed the so-called Geneva Communique.

The latest U.N. initiative will explore ways to keep up pressure on the Bashar al-Assad regime and the armed opposition to meet their obligations to grant unfettered access to humanitarian aid workers throughout Syria. On Nov. 4, Amos presented the Security Council with a confidential paper detailing the U.N. humanitarian goals in Syria.

The United Nations is currently providing assistance to more than 9.5 million civilians, including hundreds of thousands trapped under siege, in most cases by government forces. More than 2.5 million civilians, mostly located in rebel controlled areas, have received little or no aid from the United Nations and other Syrian-authorized relief agencies.

"The situation on the ground is highly challenging, complex and dangerous for humanitarian workers. Key humanitarian access routes have been cut off by the fighting," according to the U.N. paper. "Kidnappings and abductions of humanitarian workers are growing, as is hijacking and seizure of aid trucks. The Syrian authorities have yet to lift bureaucratic impediments and other obstacles hindering humanitarian work."

Follow me on Twitter: @columlynch.

Colum Lynch was a staff writer at Foreign Policy between 2010 and 2022. Twitter: @columlynch

More from Foreign Policy

The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.
The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose

Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.
A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy

The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.
Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now

In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.
U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet

As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.