An Iranian lawmaker says the United States seeks to downplay Iran’s crucial role in resolving the Syrian crisis. Mohammad Saleh Jokar made the remark in response to the US reaction to Iran’s holding of a recent consultative meeting on Syria. Iran hosted the day-long meeting on Thursday, August 7 to discuss the Syrian unrest. The gathering was attended by officials and representatives from nearly 30 countries.

The United States dismissed the importance of the conference and criticized the Islamic Republic for supporting the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Jokar reiterated that “the policy of isolating Iran will get nowhere,” adding that Washington aims to bar Iran’s participation in ending the Syrian crisis.