Participants of Syria peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan.

:: The Syrian opposition declared on Thursday its rejection of any agreement that Iran has a role in as a guarantor, “considering that Iran has committed crimes against the Syrian people and we will never agree to an Iranian role.” The opposition also rejected any agreement unless it is based on international resolutions. .

“We oppose the division of Syria and we are not an active party to the agreement signed,” said opposition spokesman Oussama Abu Zaid in a press conference in Astana, calling for a timetable for the departure of foreign militias from Syria.

“We were surprised by the dangerous Russian escalation and its bombardment on the liberated areas,” he stated, noting that Russia has broken its promises to stop bombing and stop supporting Assad.

“We have received promises to stop the shelling on the liberated areas before our participation in the negotiations,” he asserted, adding that “we attended the negotiations with the aim of stopping the shedding of Syrian blood.”

Osama Abu Zaid stressed the need for the international community to take practical measures to reduce Iran’s influence and ambitions in Syria.

The spokesman refused to respond to a question by a Syrian regime Channel on fighting the Nusra front, while a member of the delegation answered by saying, “We will fight all those who kill the Syrians, either with explosive barrels or by chemical weapons or arms.”

The three countries sponsoring the Astana talks (Russia, Turkey and Iran) agreed earlier Thursday on the four low-tension areas in Syria.

In an extended session with all the participating delegations, the Kazakh foreign minister stressed that there is no military solution in Syria.

He also emphasized that the resumption of the Geneva negotiations are linked to the results of the Astana talks.

He pointed out that the next round of the Syrian talks will be held in mid-July.

Al Arabiya correspondent in Astana reported that some representatives of the opposition withdrew when the Iranian representative signed a memorandum of understanding, according to preliminary information, especially as the Syrian armed factions protested on Wednesday in a statement the Iranian presence in Syria, and its refusal to accept an Iranian role as guarantor of a particular agreement or on the ground of course.

On Wednesday, Russia submitted a document to establish four areas of low tension or escalation. The four areas will be identified in the provinces of Idlib, north of Homs, Al-Ghouta Al-Sharqiya, and in South Syria (established by the guarantors and other parties concerned).

The establishment of these low-escalation areas aims to put an immediate end to violence, to improve the humanitarian situation and to create conducive conditions to the advancement of a political settlement.