Iran is engaging in diplomatic consultations to reopen its embassy in Damascus, confirmed Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani on Tuesday, Iranian media reported.

"As the Iranian officials have already raised the positions regarding the developments in Syria, we take the government accepted by the Syrian people as the criterion for any measure in this regard," she said during her weekly press conference held at the Tehran International Exhibition.

"We are conducting diplomatic consultations to reopen the embassy in the country," Mohajerani announced, without providing additional details.

Iran flights to Syria suspended until late January

In a related context, Iranian media reported Tuesday that Iranian flights to Syria will remain suspended until late January.

"In order to fly to a country, the destination country must grant entry and admission permits," the head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, Hossein Pourfarzaneh, indicated, as quoted by the ISNA news agency.

"Currently, flights to Syria will not be allowed until January 22, after the New Year holidays," he added.

Possible engagement with the new Syrian government?

In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said that Iran's primary goal in supporting Bashar al-Assad's regime was to combat extremist groups that posed a threat not only to Syria but also to the broader region, including Iraq and Iran.

He underscored that Iran's support for the Syrian government was rooted in its alignment with the Axis of Resistance against the Israeli occupation, as apart from this, it had no common ground with the Syrian government under al-Assad.

"These forces [in the new regime] have not, to date, displayed any hostile behavior toward Iran. While their positions may not be entirely positive toward the Islamic Republic of Iran, they have not taken any actions against us. Thus, our stance and approach toward them will depend on their future behavior and positions toward us," Kharrazi added.

For Iran, the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Syria remain key priorities, he stressed.  "We hope that this is achieved and that Syria’s youth can defend their homeland in the future against Israeli aggression."

Read more: Iran not in direct contact with new Syrian authority: Foreign Ministry