Iran's president said his country is ready to hold talks with the United States and Saudi Arabia on ways to resolve the Syrian civil war, providing such negotiations can secure peace and democracy in conflict-torn Syria, the Associated Press reports.

Shiite powerhouse Iran is a leading patron of Syrian President Bashar Assad and accuses Sunni rival Saudi Arabia and the U.S. of siding with anti-Assad rebels and militants.

Hassan Rouhani's remarks came during a press conference on Tuesday, September 8, with visiting Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer.

Rouhani said Iran will “sit at any table with regional countries and world powers if the outcome will be a safer, stable and democratic future for Syria.”

He said this is part of his nation's commitment to "international, Islamic and humane" norms.