TEHRAN: Iran affirmed its support for Syria’s sovereignty on Monday, and said the country should not become “a haven for terrorism” after the fall of president Bashar Al Assad, a long-time Tehran ally.

“Our principled position on Syria is very clear: preserving the sovereignty and integrity of Syria and for the people of Syria to decide on its future without destructive foreign interference,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a weekly press briefing.

He added that the country should not “become a haven for terrorism”, saying such an outcome would have “repercussions” for countries in the region.

Bashar Al Assad left Syria earlier this month as rebel forces, led by Ahmed Al Sharaa, entered Damascus after a lightning offensive. The takeover by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) — proscribed as a “terrorist organisation” by the United States — has sparked concern, though the group has in recent years sought to moderate its image.

Headed by Ahmed Al Sharaa, Syria’s new leader and an ardent opponent of Iran, the HTS has spoken out against Tehran’s influence in Syria under Assad.

Arab diplomats meet new leader

During Monday’s press briefing, Baqaei said Iran had “no direct contact” with Syria’s new rulers.

Saudi officials meet new leader

A Saudi delegation met Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al Sharaa in Damascus, a source close to the government said on Monday.

The “Saudi senior delegation met Ahmed Al Sharaa in Damascus yesterday (Sunday) discussing Syria situation and captagon”, the source said.

Saudi Arabia has become a major market for captagon, an addictive drug for which there is huge demand in the fossil fuel-rich Gulf.

Jordanian, Qatari delegations

Also, Sharaa held talks with senior diplomats from Jordan and Qatar.

Visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi expressed his country’s support for Syria’s reconstruction during a meeting with Sharaa.

This was the first trip to Syria by a senior Jordanian official since the toppling of Assad.

Jordan’s official Al Mamlaka TV reported that Safadi had discussed avenues of cooperation, including trade, border management, security and power connections.

Safadi expressed support for “a government that represents all spectrums in Syria”, as well as for “the drafting of a new constitution”, according to Al Mamlaka.

“We agree to support the Syrian people in rebuilding their state,” he was quoted as saying, adding that “the Arab countries agree to support Syria at this stage without any external interference”.

Also in Damascus on Monday was Qatar’s minister of state at the foreign ministry, Mohammed Al Khulaifi, leading the “first high-level Qatari delegation” to Damascus “after 13 years of diplomatic rupture”, his ministry said.

“This visit reaffirms the strong fraternal ties” between Qatar and Syria, and underscored Doha’s “unwavering commitment to supporting and assisting the Syrian people in their quest for progress, while preserving Syria’s sovereignty”, the foreign ministry statement added.

Syrian state news agency Sana published images of the meeting between Sharaa and the Qatari delegation.

Khulaifi arrived in Damascus aboard “the first Qatar Airways plane to land at the Syrian airport” since Assad’s ouster, foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari wrote on X.

A Qatari official said “a technical aviation team” accompanied the delegation “to assess the readiness of Damascus airport to resume operations”.

“Qatar has offered to provide technical support for the resumption of commercial and cargo flights, as well as to ensure the airport’s maintenance during the transitional phase,” the official added.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2024