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ANKARA: Tehran introduced its uneasiness about being sidelined from the latest assembly between Syrian and Turkish protection ministers and intelligence chiefs in Moscow with the mediation of Russia.
The critically worded remark got here from Iranian International Ministry spokesperson Nasseer Kanaani, who stated throughout a press briefing on Monday: “Iran has at all times insisted on a political resolution and never a army resolution, and it insists on this place concerning Syria.
“Syria, Russia and Turkiye have acknowledged the essential position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in preventing terrorism in Syria, supporting the federal government and folks of the nation, supporting the territorial integrity of this nation and the method of resolving the Syrian disaster,” he added.
Iranian officers have been absent on the Moscow assembly, however it’s nonetheless unknown whether or not they are going to be invited to the following assembly that’s scheduled to happen within the second half of January, probably in Moscow, and this time contain overseas ministers.
Turkiye, Iran and Russia launched collectively the Astana Course of in 2017 in a bid to revive stability in Syria. However the war-torn nation has been a supply of competitors between Tehran and Ankara for the reason that starting of the Syrian disaster, as Turkiye and Iran help opposing sides.
Iran considers the Syrian regime as key to confronting Israel, whereas Turkiye supported opposition teams preventing Bashar Assad’s regime.
Iran additionally attaches significance to the Shiite cities of Nabal and Al-Zahra in northern Syria and tries to maintain them below its sphere of affect. Nevertheless, a attainable Turkish operation towards Tal Rifaat to unite Turkish-controlled Afrin and Al-Bab areas would put these Shiite cities prone to assault due to their proximity.
A attainable Turkish army operation in northern Syria may additionally deliver Turkish and Iranian proxies to the brink of clashes as Iranian-affiliated rebels and Kurdish items in Syria are cooperating towards a attainable Turkish offensive.
“All through the Syrian civil warfare, Iran’s official discourse at all times reiterated the need of a diplomatic decision to the battle and the futility of a army resolution, regardless of its presence because the army mastermind of Assad’s floor warfare,” Dr. Gulriz Sen, an skilled on Turkiye-Iran relations from the TOBB College of Economics and Expertise in Ankara, informed Arab Information.
“Iran additionally expressed its want to mediate between Turkiye and Syria a number of instances and even hinted at internet hosting a gathering in Tehran to foster reconciliation. Tehran sees that this position resides with Russia, with President Vladimir Putin now performing as the foremost powerbroker,” she added.
In accordance with Dr. Sen, Tehran additionally sees that the dynamics within the northern elements of Syria have been largely negotiated between Turkiye and Russia in the previous few years, whereas Tehran’s place was to keep up shut hyperlinks to the Assad regime and coordinate with the Syrian authorities.
“Tehran can be content material and relieved as long as the burgeoning talks between Turkiye and Syria serve its pursuits, that are conserving the Assad regime in energy and Syria’s territorial integrity intact in addition to curbing, and probably ending, Turkiye’s army presence within the nation,” she added.
Hamidreza Azizi, visiting fellow on the German Institute for Worldwide and Safety Affairs, thinks that Russian mediation between Syria and Turkiye with out the involvement of Iran is proof of Russian political leverage on the Assad regime and its position as a powerbroker in Syria’s battle by organizing a collection of talks to barter an finish to the warfare.
“Since March 2020, Russian-Turkish bilateral cooperation started changing the three-way framework that includes Iran as a part of the Astana Course of. However Iran nonetheless welcomes any initiative that forestalls Turkiye’s army operation within the area,” he informed Arab Information.
In March 2020, Russia and Turkiye agreed upon a ceasefire in Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province, with a three-point settlement that was brokered by the Turkish and Russian presidents and that included the creation of a security hall.
“Up to now, Iran itself provided mediation between Damascus and Ankara, however it proved unsuccessful. Though Russian mediation for Syria and Turkiye marginalized Iran to a sure extent, it’s nonetheless consistent with Tehran’s pursuits for the area,” Azizi stated.
Nevertheless, consultants don’t count on that an invite shall be prolonged to Iran for the upcoming trilateral assembly.
“Tehran is probably not invited to the overseas ministers’ conferences in late January, and probably it doesn’t count on to be, as the method goes by way of Russian mediation, however Iran shall be following the talks intently and ensuring that its strategic calculations are duly mirrored within the outcomes of the conferences,” Dr. Sen stated.
Within the meantime, Turkish International Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu gave additional particulars in regards to the upcoming assembly throughout an interview with CNN Turk on Tuesday.
“All choices about Syria can’t be taken in only one assembly. All these steps (are) geared toward constructing belief and making ready the bottom for additional cooperation over smart factors within the coming interval,” he stated, including that the Syrian regime is keen to cooperate on the repatriation of Syrians.
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