Russia and Iran on Wednesday warned other international players not to stymy attempts to get talks going between the Syrian government and opposition aimed at ending the war, Moscow said.
AFP reports that around 20 countries and international bodies will meet in the Austrian capital Vienna on Saturday to try to push forward a peace plan that would include a ceasefire between Bashar al-Assad's regime and some opposition groups, and talks to find a political solution.
Neither representatives of the regime or opposition are expected to attend at this stage of the dialogue.
"Outside players... must help the sides reach an agreement and not replace the intra-Syrian negotiations or try to anticipate their results," Russia's foreign ministry said after a phone talk between Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.