A top Russian diplomat says Syrian President Bashar Assad's future is not on the agenda of Syria talks involving Russia, Iran and Turkey, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

Western nations have long demanded Assad step down as part of any settlement, while Russia and Iran have provided extensive diplomatic and military support to his government.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, said in an interview with the RIA Novosti news agency Thursday that Assad's future is "absolutely not a topic for discussion right now" between Russia, Iran and Turkey.

Source:  MENA