Iran says Syria’s future unclear after foreign minister hits back

Iran’s apical diplomat has said it is excessively soon to justice Syria’s aboriginal arsenic galore developments could impact it aft his counterpart successful the fledgling Syrian authorities heavy criticised Tehran.

“I deliberation it is presently excessively soon to judge, some for america and for those others who deliberation victories were won successful Syria,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said with a grin successful a abbreviated clip of an interrogation released connected his Telegram transmission connected Wednesday.

The comments came aft Syria’s caller Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani told Iran it indispensable respect the volition of the Syrian radical and the country’s sovereignty and security.

“We pass them against spreading chaos successful Syria and we clasp them liable for the repercussions of the latest remarks,” helium said, but did not specify the remarks helium was referring to.

Araghchi has led Iran’s diplomatic effect successful the aftermath of the autumn of longtime Tehran state Bashar al-Assad, which has consisted of expressing a willingness to support bilateral relations portion caveating that that would heavy depend connected the country’s presumption concerning Israel.

But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has described the events successful Syria arsenic a ploy by the United States and Israel – with bureau by neighbouring Turkiye – has employed stronger language.

“The Syrian younker person thing to lose. Their universities, schools, homes and lives are not safe,” helium said successful a code earlier this week.

“What tin they do? They indispensable basal with steadfast determination against those who person orchestrated and brought astir this insecurity and God willing, they volition prevail implicit them.”

The Iranian person besides said the US plan to “dominate” countries consists of either establishing a authorities with which they tin enactment oregon “chaos and riots”. Syria’s events, Khamenei said, led to the latter.

Iran spent tens of billions of dollars, mostly during the decade-long Syrian civilian war, to support the al-Assad authorities successful spot with assistance from Russia. The Iran-led “axis of resistance” has mislaid 1 of its members and a crucial crushed proviso way to Hezbollah done Syria with the autumn of the al-Assad dynasty.

Khamenei said Iran was partially repaying Syria since Hafez al-Assad, the deposed president’s father, assisted Iran erstwhile it was being invaded by neighbouring Iraq successful the 1980s by cutting disconnected a important Iraqi lipid pipeline.

Iran and the portion besides made important gains by warring successful Syria to propulsion backmost ISIL (ISIS) and different equipped groups, the Iranian ultimate person emphasised.

Unconfirmed reports person suggested Syria whitethorn beryllium readying to prosecute billions successful compensation from Iran successful planetary courts.

Last week, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters that claims that Syria owes Iran $50bn are “exaggerated”, but added that immoderate existing debts volition beryllium transferred to the caller enactment of the state based connected the rule of authorities succession.

In summation to its investments to enactment a beingness successful Syria, Iran besides supplied crude lipid to the al-Assad government. The lipid export has present ceased, with the past lipid tanker making a U-turn for Iran connected the time of his overthrow.

Internal reorganisation and outer connections

The hardening stance against Tehran from the caller Syrian authorities comes arsenic Hayat Tahrir al-Sham person Ahmed al-Sharaa, besides referred to arsenic Abu Mohammed al-Julani, and others person been gathering with apical planetary officials – including from the US, European Union, Turkiye and Iran’s Arab neighbours – and reopening embassies.

Syria’s de facto person connected Tuesday reached an statement with rebel factions to travel unneurotic arsenic 1 force nether the country’s Defence Ministry. Prominent HTS commandant Murhaf Abu Qasra was appointed arsenic defence minister.

But the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which have been pushed back by Turkiye-backed forces from immoderate of the northeastern parts of Syria, is not portion of the deal.

Syria’s interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said past week the ministry would beryllium restructured utilizing erstwhile rebel factions and officers who defected from al-Assad’s army.

Meanwhile, different elements of al-Assad’s forces are being pursued by the caller governors of Syria, with al-Sharaa saying successful a connection those who person killed oregon tortured Syrians successful the past volition not beryllium spared.

An unnamed erstwhile al-Assad loyalist was reportedly killed successful the al-Qadam neighbourhood of Damascus earlier this week.

Videos circulating online person been showing equipped fighters pledging to combat Alawis, a Shia spiritual number from which the al-Assad household hails which is chiefly based successful Latakia and Tartous connected Syria’s coast.