“Reopening the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Syria is on our agenda and this measure will be taken whenever the necessary conditions are met,” Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Baghaei emphasized that the Zionist regime’s aggressive actions in Syria are not a new issue.
“As a responsible country in the West Asia region, we remain committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region. This commitment is an international principle that has underpinned international relations for the past eight decades,” he said.
The spokesman added that all countries are obligated to safeguard international norms, respond to such aggressions, and work toward stopping these actions.
He also noted that it is not unusual for countries to have their own narratives of developments and events. However, he said, the emphasis during meetings, whether in Astana, in Doha, or in the 5+3 countries’ discussions, has been on the necessity of halting conflicts and promoting dialogue between the opposition and the Syrian government to preserve the country’s territorial integrity.
The spokesperson underlined that efforts in Doha aimed to prevent such a situation from arising.
He reiterated Iran’s advisory presence in Syria, stating, “We have never sought domination; rather, our goal has been to ensure the security of Syria and its people against Takfiri terrorism.”
“Our presence in Syria was at the invitation of the Syrian government, and safeguarding Syria’s territorial integrity was a priority for us until the very end.”
Iran-Russia policy on Syria
Baghaei answered a question by IRNA correspondent regarding the recent position of the European Union on the future of Iran and Russia in new Syria, saying that the era in which a foreign power determines the fate of another region is over, and the EU must reconsider its role in the West Asia region and evaluate its actions during the regional crises, including in Syria.
At the beginning of the formation of Daesh terror group, we witnessed a significant influx of Takfiri terrorists from European countries into our region, posing a threat to Syria and the region, and the European countries were unwilling to accept those individuals back into their countries, he noted.
The spokesman went on to say that it would be better for these countries to review their actions in the region instead of determining the fate of others.
Iran-China ties
As to the relationship between Iran and China, he emphasized that these relations are continuous and growing and that there is very good cooperation between the two countries in all political, commercial, and cultural spheres.
The Iran-China 25-Year Cooperation Program also reflects the depth of relations and extensive cooperation between the two sides, he added.
Germany’s stance on Iran islands
In response to IRNA’s question on the correction of Germany's stance on the Iranian trio islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf, the spokesman said that the Islamic Republic welcomes the stance and expects other European states, which are attributed to that statement regarding the three islands, to correct their positions.
Iran respects Syria’s unity, territorial integrity
Different groups are active in Syria and Iran hopes that this period of transition will pass peacefully, with the security of Syrians and the unity and integrity of this country, he said as saying that Iran's presence in Syria was aimed to ensure the security of the people of this country against terrorists and at the official invitation of the legitimate government of Syria.
We do not consider the security of the region apart from our own security, Baghaei said.
Referring to the Astana Peace Process, he noted that this process has made effective efforts until its last days and can still be used as a tool to help improve the situation in Syria.
He also mentioned that in recent years, the Islamic Republic has made great efforts to bring the positions of the Syrian government and the opposition closer together. However, possible amendments to related resolutions depend on the decisions of the actors and parties involved in Syria, adding that Tehran respects whatever the Syrian decide.
In response to a question regarding the current state of Iran-Syria relations, Baghaei said the diplomatic staff and ambassador of Syria are still in Iran.
“Decisions regarding the future status of the embassy will be made considering developments in Syria and possible decisions of the new Syrian governing body,” he said. “The status of Iran’s embassy in Damascus and its consulate in Aleppo will also be reviewed within this framework.”
Addressing claims suggesting that Syria’s current situation reflects the weakness of Iran and Russia, Baghaei said such narratives come from individuals who seek every opportunity to instill Iran’s weakness.
Regarding the US presence in Syria, he questioned its legality, “Does this presence have a legal basis? Is it supported by a United Nations Security Council resolution, or is it based on an official request from the Syrian government?”
Baghaei emphasized that a process is currently unfolding in Syria and expressed hope that this development, along with other initiatives aiding the formation of a new governance in Syria, would help advance the situation.
“This process should be naturally Syrian-led and aligned with the interests of the Syrian people. We hope all regional and international parties have learned from past experiences that interfering in other countries’ internal affairs benefits no one.”
He further stressed that the Zionist regime has no record other than destruction and chaos in the region. “This regime proudly claims to have targeted 400 sites in Syria and destroyed its infrastructure.”
IRNA