Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Beirut Tuesday for talks aimed at ending the four-year crisis in neighboring Syria

Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Beirut Tuesday for talks aimed at ending the four-year crisis in neighboring Syria.

Abdollahian met directly with Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. envoy to Syria at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.

He was welcomed at the airport by Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Fathali.

Abdollahian is expected to head to Damascus later Tuesday for talks with Syrian officials.

Abdollahian later met with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag.