Ban Ki-moon withdraws Iran invitation to Geneva 2
The UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon withdrew the invitation he extended to Iran to attend the Syrian peace conference opening Wednesday in the face of US and Syrian objections. Washington insisted that all participants must subscribe to the Geneva -1 Communique in 2012 for a transitional government to rule Syria. Iran turned this condition down because it would have mandated Bashar Assad's removal. Ban’s action in withdrawing the invitation to Iran enabled the talks to open on schedule in the nick of time.