Iran has reached out to US allies Turkey and Qatar amid the fighting in Syria. On Thursday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overran numerous regime-held areas in Syria, marched on Aleppo, and then turned south toward Hama. This move by the Sunni rebels threatens the Iranian-backed regime.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Syria on Sunday.
Iran is now trying to enlist Qatar and Turkey to its side. The Syrian regime has already reached out to Russia and the UAE for support.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian “said that the spread of insecurity and terrorism in the region is not in the interest of any country, emphasizing that all countries in the region must contribute to combating this ominous phenomenon,” Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran’s official news agency, reported Tuesday.
“In a telephone conversation on Monday, the Iranian president and Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, discussed the latest developments in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as the bilateral relations between Iran and Qatar.”
The Turkish connection
Historically, Turkey has backed some Syrian rebel groups. It is now using them to fight Kurds rather than the regime in Syria, which pleases Tehran.
Araghchi told his Turkish counterpart that “recent provocations by terrorists in Syria serve the objectives of the Zionist regime of Israel,” IRNA reported.
“Araghchi told [Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan] Fidan in a meeting on Monday that there is a need for more cooperation and synergy between Iran and Turkey and other regional countries to protect stability and security in the region,” the report said.
Iran wants the Astana process – a plan to end the Syrian civil war, which began in 2016 – to continue. Russia, which backs Syria, is part of this process.
Iran has also called for countries around the world to confront “terrorism,” referring to HTS and other anti-regime groups in Syria.
Turkey claims to be fighting “terrorism” in Syria, but it means it is fighting Kurdish groups.
Turkey and Iran both back Hamas. Tehran has blamed the US military, which is now fighting ISIS in eastern Syria, for the rise of “terrorism” in Syria.