Iran calls for dialogue after Assad's fall, urges Syrian-led solutions

Iran’s foreign ministry emphasized that Syria's future should be determined solely by its people, free from external interference, following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to rebel forces.

"Syria's fate is the sole responsibility of the Syrian people and should be pursued without foreign imposition or intervention," the ministry stated. This comes after years of Iranian support for Assad, including billions of dollars and the deployment of Revolutionary Guards to sustain his regime during the civil war that began in 2011, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to fostering security and stability in Syria, calling for a national dialogue to establish an inclusive government. "We will spare no effort to help establish security and stability in Syria, and to this end, we will continue consultations with all influential parties, especially in the region," the statement added.

Tehran expressed optimism that its ties with Damascus would endure despite recent events. "We expect ties between Tehran and Damascus to continue based on the two countries' far-sighted and wise approach," the ministry noted.

Iran's alliance with Syria has long been pivotal to its influence in the Middle East, creating a corridor through Iraq to Lebanon for supplying Hezbollah. The fall of Assad represents a significant blow to Iran's "Axis of Resistance" against Israel and U.S. influence in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu described Assad's ousting as a "historic day" and attributed it to "the blows dealt by Israel to Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, which had been Assad's staunchest allies."

In the wake of Assad’s fall, the Iranian embassy in Damascus was attacked, with assailants reportedly ransacking furniture and documents. Footage of the incident was broadcast by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya channel.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that embassy staff had vacated the premises before the attack, ensuring their safety. "The Islamic Republic, in contact with the parties responsible for recent developments in Syria, has warned about this issue [the storming of the embassy] and called for the prevention of the recurrence of such attacks," Baghaei stated.

Despite the turmoil, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group leading the charge in western Syria, has guaranteed the protection of Shi’ite shrines, including the revered Sayeda Zeinab shrine. The site, significant to Shi’ites worldwide, has historically been a rallying point for Iran-backed militias.

According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, all Iranian custodians of the shrine had returned to Iran before Damascus fell to rebel forces.

HTS, previously affiliated with al Qaeda as the Nusra Front, severed ties with the global jihadist organization in 2016 under the leadership of Abu Mohammed al-Golani.

By Vugar Khalilov