Tehran establishes channels to communicate with Syrian groups: Reuters
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Tehran is open to dialogue with the Syrian new government forces that have come to power in Damascus, an Iranian official told Reuters.
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Syrian new regime fighters celebrate after the Syrian government collapsed in Damascus, Syria, on December 8, 2024. (AP)
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Iran has opened a direct line of communication with the Syrian occupation coalition in Syria's new leadership since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad, to "prevent a hostile trajectory" between the two countries.
The rapid advance of the armed groups, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, marked one of the most significant turning points in the Middle East in decades.
The senior official said Iran was open to engaging with Syria's new leaders, adding that "This engagement is key to stabilizing ties and avoiding further regional tensions."
On Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that the Syrian people alone must determine the future of their country and its political system.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Pezeshkian addressed the ousting of al-Assad, underscoring the importance of maintaining Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, emphasizing the need for dialogue among various Syrian factions to reach a mutual understanding regarding the country's future.
Pezeshkian expressed hope for an immediate end to violence in Syria, enabling its citizens to decide their fate without fear or "destructive" external interference. He also called for the protection of Syrian citizens, holy sites, and diplomatic missions, stressing adherence to international law.
Additionally, Pezeshkian condemned the Israeli occupation regime’s aggression on Syrian territory, urging Syrian factions and regional nations to remain vigilant against attempts by "Israel" to exploit the crisis to advance its illegal and expansionist policies.
Iran advised Syrian government to engage in dialogue with opposition
On his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Syria has played a major role in supporting the Palestinians and the Axis of Resistance, beginning as far back as the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.
Speaking about the strong relations between Iran and Syria over the past 40 years, Araghchi highlighted one area of collaboration; "the fight against ISIS, in which Iran played a pivotal role." He noted that this was the primary reason for the Iranian presence in Syria—"to safeguard our national security."
He asserted that Iran has played a key role in combating ISIS in both Iraq and Syria, at the request of their governments, pointing out that "if we hadn’t fought ISIS in Iraq and Syria, we would have had to fight them within Iran's borders."
The top Iranian diplomat stressed that it was clear from the beginning to Iran that the United States and "Israel" sought to entangle the Islamic Republic in successive crises, including in Syria.
