Iran remains the biggest backer of President Assad’s fight against three years of rebellion, as efforts to reach a political settlement have failed.With Syria’s neighbors struggling to care for refugees and to contain cross-border violence,President Obama announced he is stepping up support for Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq, but ruled out sending U. S. troops."As president I made a decision that we should not put American troops into the middle of this increasingly sectarian war.And I believe that is the right decision.But that does not mean we shouldn’t help the Syrian people stand up against a dictator who bombs and starves his own people," said Obama.Some say the ongoing talks with Iran on an international nuclear accord may help lessen Tehran’s support for the government in Damascus.American University professor Hillary Mann Leverett,"If we can unlock the nuclear issue and even further diminish our sense of Iran as the boogeyman,it would allow us to, I think, more productively sit at the table with them and get serious about conflict resolution in Syria," said Leverett.She said Iran’s role in a ceasefire in Homs shows its willingness to helping stop the fighting."Iran has shown now in a very tangible way that it’s not just an ally of Bashar al-Assad.It is a player that can bring stability, that can talk to all of the parties --including deeply anti- Shiite rebel parties -- and it can be a positive player," said Leverett.Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says nuclear talks are at a "tough juncture," but he believes they can produce an agreement "beneficial for both sides."
