Annan Urges More Pressure on Syria Foes, Says Iran Must be 'Part of Solution'

International envoy Kofi Annan on Friday urged the world to raise the level of pressure on Syria's rival sides and said Iran should have a role to play in the effort.

"It's time for countries of influence to raise the level of pressure on the parties on the ground and to persuade them to stop the killing and start the talking," he told a press conference in Geneva.

The peace envoy spoke amid continuing efforts to coordinate a final drive to find a diplomatic solution to the Syria crisis.

"I urge all parties to heed the call for a cessation of violence," said Annan, adding that it would soon be too late to stop the crisis from "spiraling out of control".

Annan also told reporters that he could not confirm whether a key meeting of nations would meet in Geneva on June 30, adding that an announcement would be made about the contact group meeting next week.

The envoy said he hoped the permanent members of the Security Council would attend as well as countries with influence on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

He later told reporters Iran "should be part of the solution" in Syria.

Annan, who underlined the importance of making sure the crisis did not spread to neighboring countries, also praised the work of the U.N.'s unarmed observers under Major General Robert Mood, head of the U.N. Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS).

Mood, who was by Annan's side in Geneva, said his observers could be "proud" of "a job well done".

On Tuesday Mood told the U.N. Security Council that it was too dangerous for 300 U.N. monitors to operate at full capacity and suspended much of the mission's tasks.

"I am going to commend them on the job they are doing and are doing ... our aim is to continue with our mandated tasks," he said.

Annan wants to get Russia, Assad's last major ally, and the United States, which has called for the Syrian leader to step down, and other key nations behind an effort to bring Assad into talks, diplomats and officials said.