Russia, Jordan to 'coordinate' military ops in Syria

He said that meant including Iran and Egypt in particular.

Lavrov was speaking in Vienna after a meeting between the United States, Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia which had been called to explore a political solution to the Syrian civil war.

"If we were to present Bashar al-Assad as the future for Syria, this would again push into the arms of the terrorists all those who are not for Bashar al-Assad - but who are not for the terrorists either". The other countries the Secretary General named - the USA, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - have a military role in the conflict.

The Syrian presidency confirmed that Assad and Putin held three meetings in which Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu were present.

Iran has not been invited to previous global peace conferences on Syria, all of which ended in failure, while the war, which has so far killed more than 250,000 people and driven millions from their homes, has raged on. Moreover, it was revealed during a meeting of the Valdai Club in Sochi that Damascus is ready to collaborate with the armed Syrian opposition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Greater Syria (ISIS).

However, Moscow appears to be pushing for an 18-month transitional period, with Assad part of power, to be followed by presidential elections in which Assad can participate, something which Assad's opponents oppose, the source said.

For more on the state of play between the USA and Russian Federation over Syria, we turn to NewsHour chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Warner, who has been following all of this.

Assad's surprise visit to Moscow on Tuesday - his first known trip overseas since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 - has now placed the Kremlin as the key link to the strongman.

"The best case scenario is that we wake up in the morning and Bashar al-Assad is not there".

Lawmakers are likely to receive a hero's welcome in Assad-controlled areas where local residents and refugees are ecstatic about Russia's military help, chanting "Thank you!" to a bus carrying Moscow-based journalists. "But for Russia it's about geopolitics and interests, so we can talk to the Russians", he said. But it has not gone away, and is at odds with Russia's view that Assad is Syria's legitimate leader. It was pretty clear from what Kerry said today that the U.S.is willing to consider a transition in which Assad may remain for a while.

Saudi Arabia, which is financing a few of the militants fighting against Assad, has baulked at Russia's intervention.

And also that day, Syrian President Assad met with President Putin in Moscow.

"Russia, now that it's moved it military force into Syria, is pounding the rebels, is trying to find a permanent place for this Syrian regime".

"The change of Britain's approach toward Maine crises was highly demanded in addition to stress on realistic understanding of the issues and emphasis on political solutions", said Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, commenting on the accomplishments of his visit to London in an interview with the national television of Iran, IRIB, on Friday. Igor Konashenkov said that in the past 24 hours, Russian planes made 53 sorties, hitting 72 targets - mostly weapons and ammunition depots and other infrastructure.