Syria's Foreign Ministry Clarifies Its Position on Iran's Policy: The Result of 14 Years of War, Killing, and Destruction

- The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Syria's position regarding Iran's policy is the result of 14 years of war, killing, displacement, and destruction, and Iran's role in supporting the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad. It emphasized that it does not want hostility with any country nor dependency on any country. The Syrian news agency "SANA" quoted the advisor for Afro-Asian affairs at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad al-Jafal, as saying on Sunday evening that "the Syrian position regarding Iranian policy was not a fleeting political stance, but rather the result of 14 years of war, killing, displacement, and destruction, and Iran's role in supporting the Assad regime."

Al-Jafal added that "Iran's support for the former Syrian regime, at the expense of the Syrian people, contributed to complicating the crisis and brought more calamities upon the Syrians, and this cannot be ignored when discussing the relations between the two countries." He stressed that "the new Syria adopts an open policy with all countries, but it cannot ignore what has happened or the rights of the Syrians," according to "SANA."

Al-Jafal said: "If Iran wants to build a new relationship with Syria, it must respect Syria's sovereignty and the will of its people, review its previous policies, and build trust," explaining that "Syria today is not a sphere of influence for any country, and its foreign relations will be based on mutual respect, national interests, and equality, and it does not want hostility with any country nor dependency on any country, but rather balanced relations that respect its sovereignty and the choices of its people," as reported by "SANA." Al-Jafal's statements came after Iranian President Samood Bezhakian stated in a television interview that his country has not yet been able to establish a relationship with the new Syrian government due to what he described as "the impression they have created," expressing hope that Damascus would act based on Islam, religion, justice, and fairness, considering that if actions are taken according to these principles, "there will be no problem."

Iran's role during the years of the Syrian revolution has resurfaced, as it provided political and military support to the Assad regime, and armed groups linked to Tehran supported it in its battles against opposition factions, until the fall of the former Syrian regime in December 2024.