Iran could be a “heavyweight champion” of efforts to bring peace to Syria, Iran’s UN ambassador said yesterday, renewing criticism of his country’s exclusion from international talks on the conflict. Ambassador Mohamed Khazaee hit out at the Western powers, “particularly the US”, for ignoring “the power and the influence of Iran”.

“They have to consider that they are talking to a nation and a country that could be a heavyweight champion bringing peace and civility to the region. Syria issue is one of them,” Khazaee told reporters.

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and UN leader Ban Ki-moon had wanted Iran at the ministerial meeting and the UN has said Annan will brief Iranian authorities after the encounter.

“That shows how powerful and influential and helpful Iranians can be on the Syrian issue,” said the Iranian ambassador. Speaking of the Western powers who blocked his country, Khazaee added: “That is their problem, losing a good way to solve the problem.”