UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will visit Syria's ally, Iran, in hopes of moving political talks forward.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the trip today, saying the talks are "in crisis" because the Syrian government and opposition aren't willing to compromise.
Ban said that neighbouring Iran, which was barred from the January 23 opening session of peace talks in Geneva, is a key player. It "can play an important role, including impressing upon the Syrian authorities to come to the Geneva conference in a more constructive way," Ban added.
He urged the United States and Russia as the initiators of the Geneva talks "to take clear steps to re-energise the political process."
Syria's uprising, which began three years ago with protests against the government, has evolved into a bloody civil war.
