(CNN) -- International envoy Kofi Annan said Tuesday he sees Iran as a factor in diplomatic efforts to forge peace in Syria, a stance not shared by the United States. "I think Iran can play a positive role," Annan said during a news conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran. His remarks came a day after he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Annan said al-Assad agreed on "an approach" to ending the 16 months of bloodshed in his country. World powers have deplored al-Assad's government for its assaults against civilians. But the diplomatic wranglings, such as Annan's recent Action Group meeting in Geneva and the U.S. and Arab-backed Friends of Syria initiative, have failed to stop the killings of thousands since March 2011.
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An opposition group recorded at least 68 deaths Tuesday
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The United States calls Iran's behavior in Syria "destructive"
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Annan visited Bashar al-Assad in Damascus
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The envoy is now in Iraq, meeting with its prime minister
"And so, of course, Kofi Annan in @placeholder, to the extent that he can stress to the Iranians the importance of cooperating with the plan, that's a good thing.
Asked about his meeting on Monday with @placeholder, Annan said the two discussed efforts to end violence, but he didn't want to mention details until he talked with opposition leaders.