UNITED NATIONS, United States: Syria’s opposition is hoping to persuade the US administration this week to throw its weight behind UN-led peace talks and counter Russia’s bid to set up a parallel track, its lead negotiator said Tuesday.

After meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, opposition leaders are heading to Washington on Tuesday for meetings to shore up the Geneva talks, which are expected to resume on January 21.

“All of us, all of our countries are waiting for an American role” in finding a settlement to the nearly seven-year war, Nasr Hariri told AFP in an interview.

The United States is “the most important player in the Syrian fight, the only state that can make a balance with the Russian influence,” he said.

The delegation led by Hariri hopes to meet with US national security adviser H.R McMaster, State Department officials and members of Congress to make their case for US engagement.