U.S. voices concerns about Iran's role in new Syria deal

The United States was concerned about Iran's role as a guarantor of a new agreement to reduce violence in certain areas of Syria, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

While the United States supports any effort to de-escalate the violence in Syria, the involvement of Iran as one of the guarantors of the Astana agreement reached on Thursday between Russia, Turkey, and Iran raised concerns, said the State Department in a statement.

There is no comment so far from the Iran side.

"We nonetheless hope that this arrangement can contribute to a de-escalation of violence, end the suffering of the Syrian people, and set the stage for a political settlement of the conflict," said the statement.

Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday signed a memorandum in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on the creation of four safe zones in war-torn Syria.

The aim is to "put an immediate end to the violence," "provide the conditions for the safe, voluntary return of refugees," and allow immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, the memorandum said.

In the statement, U.S. State Department called for the Syrian opposition to "live up to its commitments."

Russia and Iran have been backing Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey backs Syrian rebels. The six-year war in Syria has cost over 320,000 lives. Endi