No End in Sight to the War in Syria

U.S. officials said this week that the United States is moving forward with aninternational agreement with Iran. The agreement would release Iran fromtrade restrictions while it agrees not to develop nuclear weapons.Congressional Republicans strongly oppose the agreement, but have failed topass a resolution to reject it.

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans failed to get the 60 votes they needed for abill “disapproving” the deal. The vote was 56 to 42. The week before, the billalso failed to get the necessary votes.

World powers and Iran announced the deal in July. They agreed to easeinternational economic sanctions against Iran. In exchange, Iran promised tolimit its nuclear activities.

After the announcement, some observers said they hoped the United States,Russia and Iran would turn their attention to negotiating an end to the civil warin Syria.

Instead, Russia and Iran restated their support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government. That support seems to prolong the four-year-longwar. An estimated 240,000 people have died in the fighting so far.

Most sides involved in Syria recognize the importance of defeating theterrorist forces of the Islamic State. But experts say an offensive against themilitants is unlikely as long as the civil war continues.

Last month, the United Nations Security Council expressed support forrenewed peace efforts in Syria. It was the first time in two years that thecouncil’s 15 members agreed on a political statement about the conflict.

The plan calls for the creation of a new government in Syria.

European nations are especially interested in ending the war. Tens ofthousands of Syrian refugees have fled to Europe. Migrants and refugeesfrom other countries also have joined that flow, and tensions are strainedalong various borders.

Last weekend, Germany’s foreign minister reportedly pushed “for a newdiplomatic initiative” in talks with Russia’s foreign minister. The German officialsaid he is worried about “the...