U.N. peace envoy Kofi Annan continued an effort to mediate an end to the violence in Syria with visits on Tuesday to Iran and Iraq. Speaking in Tehran, Annan rejected the U.S. position that Iran should be kept out of the talks.

Kofi Annan: “The essence of the six-point plan — stopping the violence, releasing detainees, allowing humanitarian access — should be seen as a package. A package, if implemented, would help create the environment and the conducive climate for political talks, political talks between Syrians to determine their own political future. I believe, as you’ve heard me say on many occasions, that Iran has a role to play. And my presence here explains that I believe in that. I don’t speak for other countries.”