Iran has once again commented on the collapse of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which was its ally, on December 8, 2024. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi considered that “the blow that was dealt to the Syrian army was media and psychological before it was military.”
He also added during a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the killing of the commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, on Tuesday, “The Syrian army was defeated before it fought, and this should be a wake-up call for us.”
Rejection of division
Arakchi had called late last month for the formation of a government that includes all Syrian parties.
He also stressed the importance of preserving security and stability, as well as the unity of Syrian territory and sovereignty and the rejection of division. At the same time, he stressed the need not to interfere in the internal affairs of this country.
He also urged the interim administration to respect all nationalities and sects and guarantee their rights.
Verbal tension
It is noteworthy that the past few days have witnessed verbal tension between Damascus and Tehran, especially after Iranian officials, headed by the guide Ali Khamenei, considered that the “resistance” would reappear in Syria. Damascus saw this as blatant interference in internal affairs and an attempt to ignite sedition.
It is worth noting that Ahmed al-Sharaa, who heads the new political administration in Damascus, clarified in an interview on December 29 with Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that the new Syria does not seek any tensions with regional or Western countries, but rather wants to establish friendly relations with everyone, including Iran, “despite the wounds,” as he put it.
It is worth noting that Tehran had strongly supported Assad throughout the years of the civil war, and sent thousands of fighters to support the Syrian armed forces at the time, including members of Hezbollah.
But after December 8 and the fall of Assad, it became clear that it had lost a key ally and a pivotal land corridor for smuggling weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Before the fall of the former Syrian president, it became clear that Tehran had lost hope in his survival, and began withdrawing its fighters and advisors from Syria.
