Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (left) arrives in Damascus for a state visit on Sunday. Amir-Abdollahian discussed "the latest regional development and bilateral relations" in his meetings with Syrian officials and the two sides vowed to take "mighty steps" to confront US sanctions. Photo: AFP

 Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Sunday called for resolving the refugee issues and anti-Syrian embargoes as means to help settle Syria's crisis, according to Iran's Foreign Ministry.

"Without considering the issue of refugees and the sanctions imposed on Syria, [resolving] the crisis in this country cannot be directed in the right direction," Amir Abdollahian said at a meeting with the visiting UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen.

Amir Abdollahian thanked the special envoy for helping the national dialogue, peace and stability in Syria, emphasizing Iran's efforts in helping him succeed in restoring peace and stability in Syria.

Underlining Iran's view on political solution to the Syrian crisis from the beginning of conflicts, he said that the United Nations has been considered, by Iran, as a part of the pursuit of a political solution in Syria.

He blamed the "illegal presence of US forces as well as the Israeli attacks on the Arab country for disrupting the political settlement of conflicts in Syria," and stressed the need for international community and the United Nations to pay attention to it.

For his part, Pedersen described the situation in Syria as stable, noting that under current situation, no involved party is talking about regime change in Damascus.

He also stressed the preservation of national sovereignty, political establishment and territorial integrity of Syria.

Iran has been a major ally of the Syrian government in its fight against the armed rebels since 2011. Iran is host to one of the largest and most protracted urban refugee situations in the world and has provided asylum to refugees for over four decades.