Iran and Turkey’s secret talks on Syria revealed
▻https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/13/iran-and-turkey-held-secret-talks-on-syria-peace-proposals-in-2013-and-
“We agreed on every detail, except a clause in the final phase of the plan which called for UN-monitored elections. Turkish leaders wanted Assad barred,” Zarif is quoted as saying in the report. “I noted that this should not be a concern in an internationally monitored election, particularly if, as Turkey holds, Assad has a dreadful record and a minority constituency. But Davutoğlu refused... and our efforts came to naught.”