Iranians are very proud and don't want to become a pariah state like North Korea.

So I've gone in and out of the UN, working on counter-terrorism, on UN reform, on peacekeeping, peace and security issues, many things through the years but always with a strong interest in humanitarian issues, and human rights issues as well.

I've been involved in and out of the UN for many years - in fact my first internship was in 1971, so it goes back a couple of years!

I think Syria is in a particularly sensitive geopolitical position in terms of the politics of the Middle East.

Iranians are very proud and don't want to become a pariah state like North Korea.