BICOM

Multilateral talks will begin today in Vienna which aim to begin a process to eventually produce a cease-fire in Syria and a political transition of power among the warring factions. The talks are also notable as they bring together the Middle East’s opposing dominant regional players, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

In total, around 20 countries are expected to send high-level representatives to the talks, including many Arab counties and European nations, among them the UK. European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said that “all the relevant actors, regionally and internationally” had gathered in Vienna. However, the five main participants are considered to be United States, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia. United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on these countries to abandon “national perspectives” for the sake of “global leadership.”

The main participants have entirely opposing views of the Syrian conflict, which has killed at least 250,000 people during the last four years and displaced at least half of the country’s population. The United States has long insisted that Syria’s President Assad must relinquish power, while Russia is a staunch Assad ally and recently deployed troops in Syria to help prop up his regime. Meanwhile, both Shi’ite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia view themselves as vying for regional hegemony, with Syria a crucial battleground for their ambitions. Iran has long provided material support for Assad’s forces, while the Saudis have handed significant backing to the rebels seeking Assad’s removal.

There appears little optimism of concrete progress in Vienna. US Secretary of State John Kerry commented, “The challenge that we face in Syria today is nothing less than to chart a course out of hell.” Washington agreed this week to allow Iran to participate in the talks, having previously opposed their attendance. Some believe it may be another sign of Tehran’s growing acceptance within the international community, following the conclusion of July’s long-term nuclear agreement with the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany).